New Delhi: India’s recent strikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were informed by intelligence suggesting these sites were actively involved in supporting terrorist activities against India, according to counter-terrorism officials. Groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen have reportedly been receiving covert support from the Pakistan Army and its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
This assistance encompasses coordinated financial, logistical, doctrinal, and military aid, along with direct combat training, officials noted. Pakistani military personnel frequently visit and oversee training sessions at camps run by these organizations, which have rebranded themselves as The Resistance Front (TRF), People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), and Kashmir Tigers (KT) to avoid international scrutiny and present their actions as a local resistance.
Significant backing for these groups is provided through infrastructure hidden within government facilities. Many of the training camps and launch pads targeted in Operation Sindoor are located near military installations and cantonment areas, often disguised as Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
These terrorist organizations have also been equipped with military-grade communication tools. Locations like Sarjal–Tehra Kalan host high-frequency communication systems utilized for planning and coordinating with infiltrated terrorists, officials stated.
Institutional support for religious indoctrination and related activities—such as funding, propaganda, and recruitment—is being conducted at various facilities within Pakistan, including the Markaz Taiba of LeT in Muridke and the Markaz Subhan Allah of JeM in Bahawalpur. These sites not only house senior commanders but also act as hubs for radicalization and training in intelligence and weaponry.
Furthermore, leaders of these organizations have utilized these venues to deliver anti-India rhetoric, exemplified by JeM chief Masood Azhar’s speech in December 2024 at Markaz Subhan Allah. Additionally, camps like Syedna Bilal and Shawai Nallah in Muzaffarabad, along with Raheel Shahid in Kotli, are reportedly being employed by the Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG) for training in jungle and guerrilla warfare, according to officials.
Operation Sindoor: Profile of the Nine Targets India Attacked on Wednesday
- Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur
Since its establishment in 2015, this facility has served as the primary center for training and indoctrination for JeM. It functions as the operational headquarters, involved in planning significant operations such as the Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019. The site includes the residences of key figures like JeM Chief Maulana Masood Azhar, de facto leader Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Maulana Ammar, and their families. Masood Azhar has made numerous anti-India speeches here, urging young people to engage in Islamic jihad. JeM routinely conducts arms, physical, and religious training at this location.
- Markaz Taiba, Muridke
Additionally, Markaz Taiba, established in 2000 in Nangal Sahdan, Muridke (Sheikhupura, Punjab), serves as the primary training center for LeT, offering arms training and religious indoctrination to recruits from both Pakistan and abroad, enrolling around 1,000 students each year. The construction of a mosque and guesthouse within the complex was reportedly financed by Osama bin Laden. This facility was instrumental in training the 26/11 Mumbai attackers, including Ajmal Kasab, and has hosted conspirators like David Headley and Tahawwur Rana.
- Sarjal / Tehra Kalan
Furthermore, the JeM launching facility located in Shakargarh Tehsil, Narowal District (Punjab, Pakistan), operates from a PHC in Tehra Kalan village, approximately 6 km from the International Border near the Samba sector in J&K. It is utilized for tunnel construction, drone operations, and the smuggling of arms and narcotics, with senior JeM leaders such as Mohammad Adnan Ali (@Doctor) and Kashif Jan frequently visiting the site, which is managed by Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar.
- Mehmoona Joya Facility, Sialkot
Located within the Bhutta Kotli Government BHU in Head Marala, Sialkot District, this Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) facility is used for infiltration into Jammu. Cadres are trained here in weapon handling and terrorist tactics. The facility is commanded by Mohammad Irfan Khan (@Irfan Tanda), who has been linked to multiple attacks in the Jammu region. At any time, 20–25 militants are based at the facility. - Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala, Bhimber Located on Kote Jamel Road at the edge of Barnala, this facility operated by LeT is utilized for the infiltration of operatives and weapons into the Poonch–Rajouri–Reasi region. It has the capacity to accommodate 100–150 members and serves as a base for operational activities. Notable LeT operatives such as Qasim Gujjar (@Mahrore), Qasim Khanda, and Anas Jarar are active here under the supervision of senior commanders.
- Markaz Abbas in Kotli
Markaz Abbas in Kotli, also referred to as Markaz Saidna Hazrat Abbas Bin Abdul Mutalib, is a facility operated by JeM under the leadership of Hafiz Abdul Shakoor (@Qari Zarrar), a member of the shura and a close associate of Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar. This facility can accommodate between 100 and 125 JeM operatives and functions as a central hub for strategizing and executing infiltration missions into the Poonch–Rajouri area. Qari Zarrar is currently wanted by India’s NIA.
- Maskar Raheel Shahid, Kotli
This facility for HM can accommodate between 150 and 200 militants and focuses on training in arms handling, sniping, BAT operations, and survival techniques in mountainous regions. It stands as one of the oldest operational bases for HM in PoJK.
- Shawai Nallah Camp
Shawai Nallah Camp, also referred to as Bait-ul-Mujahideen, is a Lashkar-e-Taiba facility situated near the Chelabandi Bridge along the Muzaffarabad–Neelum Road. Active since the early 2000s, it focuses on training recruits in religious teachings, physical fitness, GPS navigation, and weapon handling. Notably, the attackers of the 26/11 incident received training here. The camp can accommodate between 200 and 250 militants and acts as a launch point for operations aimed at North Kashmir.
- Markaz Syedna Bilal
Markaz Syedna Bilal, situated across from the Red Fort in Muzaffarabad, serves as the primary hub for JeM in PoJK. This facility acts as a transit camp for militants before they enter J&K, accommodating between 50 to 100 operatives. The center is led by Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri and is frequented by Indian fugitive Aashiq Nengroo and JeM commander Abdullah Jehadi (@Abdullah Kashmiri). Training at this location is conducted by SSG commandos from the Pakistan Army.
