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Foreign media, Pakistan govt use a loop of lies to claim ‘Indian fighter jets shot down’ despite zero evidence: Pakistani defence minister says he read it on ‘social media’

Shraddha Pandey
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Foreign media, Pakistan govt use a loop of lies to claim ‘Indian fighter jets shot down’ despite zero evidence: Pakistani defence minister says he read it on ‘social media’

Amidst the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions triggered by the Pakistan-sponsored Jihadi terror attack in Pahalgam and retaliated by India’s Operation Sindoor targeting terrorist and their infrastructure in Pakistan, the hostile neighbour is peddling disinformation to evade embarrassment. While Pakistan making unfounded claims of shooting down multiple Indian fighter jets is not shocking per se, given the country thrives on lies and anti-India rhetoric, the foreign media is uncritically amplifying these imaginary claims.

In this vein, The New York Times in its report “The Indian Aircraft Pakistan Says It Shot Down” amplified Pakistani lies of having shot down five Indian warplanes, including three Rafale fighter jets, one MIG-29 fighter aircraft, and one Su-30 fighter jet.

While Pakistan has failed to provide any substantial proof, including visuals of the wreckage of the supposedly downed Indian fighter jets, NYT decided to take ‘expert’ opinion of John E Pike, the director of Global Security, who speculated that those five aircraft and the drone could have been downed by surface-to-air or air-to-air missiles. Because “Pakistan has both”. There was no evidence to back Pakistan’s claims, zero visuals despite the flood of visuals of India’s successful target hits inside Pakistan, but the New York Times went with a baseless claim anyway.

Similarly, the Washington Post published a report with the headline “Pakistan claims to have downed Indian warplanes, vows response to strikes.” However, the article only amplified the unfounded claims made by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that the Pakistan Air Force shot down five Indian warplanes, including three French-made Rafales.

Meanwhile, Reuters decided to publish absolute lies even as the very visuals it attached in its report expose the publication’s falsehoods. On 7th May,  Reuters put out a report with the headline, “Three fighter jets crashed in India’s Jammu and Kashmir, local govt sources say”.

In this article, Reuters cited ‘local sources’ to claim that three Indian fighter jets crashed in India’s Jammu and Kashmir territory. The news outlet quoted a Pakistani military spokesperson who claimed that PAF shot down Indian fighter jets.

In all these reports, the only featured image was the image of a discarded external fuel tank that is shed during flights by fighter jets, known as drop tanks.

Notably, Pakistan has failed to provide video proof or even a photograph of the Indian fighters that were attacked. One unconfirmed video that has gone viral on social media showed locals filming an airplane’s underwing. However, the picture was originally posted in September 2024.

Meanwhile, CNN also decided to jump on the bandwagon of pushing falsehoods about Indian warplanes by amplifying a circle loop of ‘claims’. In its report headlined: “India strikes deep inside Pakistan, Pakistan claims 5 Indian jets shot down, in major escalation”, CNN on 7th May cited Pakistani ‘military sources’ to claim that PAF shot down five Indian fighter jets and one drone in “self-defense,” claiming three Rafale jets – sophisticated multi-role fighters made in France – were among those downed as well as a MiG-29 and an SU-30 fighter.”

As if this much buffoonery was not enough, CNN also claimed that Indian aircraft had crashed in Jammu and Kashmir despite it being clear from the visuals themselves that the wreckage was not that of fighter jets but of a drop tank. It further mentioned that news agency AFP showed wreckage of the ‘aircraft’ lying in a field next to a red-brick building, however, it added that it was not clear to which side the aeroplane belonged.

Besides Reuters, NYT and WaPo, and CNN, the Chinese media house Global Times also claimed that Pakistan reportedly shot down three Indian fighter jets.

However, the Indian Embassy in China promptly refuted them and asked the outlet to verify facts and scrutinise sources prior to sharing such disinformation. Community Notes also fact-checked the Chinese propaganda. “There’s no truth to claims about any Indian aircraft being shot down. No evidence, no official word, no credible sources. It’s all dis/misinformation designed to mislead and push fake narratives. Don’t fall for it. Always check the facts,” it read.

The Chinese propaganda outlet however, remains undeterred from peddling lies to save its ally cum vassal Pakistan from the embarrassment inflicted upon it by India through the successful execution of Operation Sindoor. Apparently, the desperation of the Chinese media outlet stems also from the fact that even Chinese equipment procured by Pakistan could be of no use in preventing India’s operation on Pakistani soil.

In a report, Global Times said, “Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday confirmed that J-10C jets participated in Pakistan’s response to Indian attacks, media reported, following wide speculations over if Pakistan’s equipment procured from China have played roles in the clash that led to the downing of several Indian aircraft.”

Global Times, taking a page from the Pakistani establishment’s Goebbelsian playbook, has, evidently, decided to peddle a lie a thousand times to make it seem true. No wreckage, no visuals, no Indian pilots caught or found dead yet, Pakistan and its Chinese masters want the world to believe that PAF downed Indian warplanes. In another report, Global Times published outright fake news citing The Hindu report, to claim that three Indian fighter jets crashed on Wednesday in Akhnoor, Ramban and Pampore areas of Jammu and Kashmir.  

The Hindu initially reported that three Indian fighter jets had crashed in the Akhnoor region of Jammu and Kashmir, citing a government official. However, the report was subsequently removed, and the publication expressed regret, confirming that there was no official information on record from India regarding this incident.

The Hindu posted 4 photographs with the tweet, purportedly of the crashed Indian jets. In one of the images used in the report, the caption said, “Wreckage of Indian Air force fighter jet that crashed in Wuyan Pampore, South Kashmir on May 7, 2025.” The caption of another image says, “Firefighters douse smoke coming out from the debris of an aircraft near Akhnoor on the outskirts of Jammu, on May 7, 2025. 

However, no such crash took place, and the Hindu report was completely baseless. A study of the images published by them shows that the object that crashed onto the ground is actually an external fuel tank, not a fighter jet. Fighter jets on longer missions carry such external fuel tanks under their wings. After the fuels are used, the tanks can be jettisoned, and they crash onto the ground. They are called ‘Drop tanks,’ as they can be dropped from the air after they are no longer needed. Therefore, this does not mean that the jets crashed; it just means the jets dumped their external fuel tanks inside Kashmir.

After the claim was found to be false, The Hindu deleted the post, and ‘regretted’ that it created confusion among people. While The Hindu retracted its factually baseless story and issued a clarification on the same, neither Global Times nor Reuters, which peddled the same falsehood, have retracted their stories devoid of facts.  

For argument’s sake, even if we assume that Indian planes did fall on the Indian side, why are there no visuals? Jammu and Kashmir is now swarming with media and reporters everywhere, everyone has a phone and internet. If the incident was indeed true, there would have been no chance of hiding it from the cameras of the on-ground journalists and locals, since, unlike Pakistan, which concocts lies and coverups for its damages, Indian armed forces do not operate that way.

While foreign media are pushing Pakistani lies of having downed Indian fighter jets, the Pakistani defence minister says “It’s all over social media” when asked for proof

On one hand, the foreign leftist media is amplifying Pakistani fake claims of shooting down Indian warplanes and citing dubious Pakistani ‘sources’, the hostile neighbour’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif attributed his nation’s claims of having downed five Indian fighter jets, including Rafales during “Operation Sindoor” to ‘social media posts’.

“It is all on social media, and Indian social media, not our social media. The debris of the jets fell on their side. It is all over the Indian media,” he replied when CNN interviewer Becky Anderson asked him for any concrete evidence to back the claims. “You’re the defence minister, sir. The reason to talk to you today is not to talk about content all over social media,” she interjected and pointed out that he was not summoned to talk about social media content but rather to present genuine proof.

When she again urged him to substantiate his statement with evidence, inquiring whether any Chinese equipment was utilised to bring down the Rafael jets, he denied and then continued to stumble over his words.

He stated that Pakistan possesses Chinese aircraft that are produced and assembled domestically. He subsequently launched into a tirade about India’s procurement of aircraft from France, declaring that his country could similarly acquire them from China, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom for their own use. “They have already admitted that their three planes are down,” he alleged, disregarding the issue of evidence entirely.

Evidently, the foreign media is grasping baseless, blatant lies of Pakistan to peddle false headlines either out of their genuine sympathy for the Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists killed by the Indian forces in Pakistan, including the relatives of Jaish chief Masood Azhar, or due to their unwarranted disdain for India.

While the Islamist-sympathising media is essentially pushing a pro-Pakistan narrative relying on imaginary bravado of having shot down Indian warplanes, in reality, Indian Air Force hitting terrorist targets deep inside Pakistan only shows the hard truth, that India has unmatched air dominance and Pakistani defence system has failed to stop Indian missiles from eliminating terrorists and their jihad factories.

Pakistan’s strategy is clear: push communally charged rhetoric and concoct a narrative of imaginary aerial victories to offset the embarrassment of India’s deep strikes on terrorist infrastructures in its country. Pakistani government has unbanned X, to turn it alongside other social media platforms into a breeding ground for unverified images and videos, to weaponise social media as many Pakistani X users circulated old and unrelated visuals of MiG-29 crash in Rajasthan from 2024 or from a similar inident from 2021 to pass it off as fresh evidence of downed Indian fighter jets. Even Pakistani media is peddling using old visuals as recycled propaganda, although independent fact-checkers and India’s PIB are continuously debunking their lies.

Defying all ethics of journalism, a significant section of foreign media is parroting Pakistan’s unverified claims, citing ‘officials’ or vague imagery and refraining from taking down the fake news despite Indian authorities debunking those claims. No matter what lies Pakistan and international media peddle, the fact is, India’s air dominance was unmistakable, yet the measured approach of targeting only terrorist infrastructure and not Pakistani military facilities clearly demonstrates the country’s commitment to counterterrorism,m not warmongering.

China fans Pakistani fake claims of shooting down 5 Indian Air Force jets using Chinese jets to promote its defense technology, reports surge in defense stocks after Operation Sindoor

Sandeep Singh
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China fans Pakistani fake claims of shooting down 5 Indian Air Force jets using Chinese jets to promote its defense technology, reports surge in defense stocks after Operation Sindoor

On early morning of May 7, India launched a devastating strike on terror targets inside Pakistan controlled territory. Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujhaideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba terror camps located in Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Muzaffarabad were hit by missiles from Indian forces. Following the attacks, a rattled Pakistani establishment and Pakistani media floated all sorts of fake news to try and save their face.

One such fake news that repeatedly surfaced, and continues to make the rounds, is that Pakistan downed several Indian Jets in retaliation. The number of jets downed by Pakistan varied from propagandist to propagandist depending on their individual lucky numbers. Some said 2, some said 3, some said 5, and leading journalist Hamid Mir thought he should lead here as well, and claimed 6 Indian Jets were shot down by Pakistan.

Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also peddled the same fake news in an interview with CNN, and when asked if he has any evidence, he innocently said he had read it on Social Media, I repeat, he is the Defense Minister of the country which allegedly shot down 5 jets, he apparently gets his information from social media trolls.

The propaganda factory of Pakistan also claimed that 1 Rafale, India’s most advanced fighter jet, procured from France, was also shot down by Pakistan. Some more enthusiastic propagandists posted on social media that 3 Rafales have been shot down.

Even though debris of no Indian aircraft have been found, no photo or video evidence has been recorded, no pilots have been found who must have evacuated these jets, Pakistani propaganda accounts are diligently peddling this obvious fake news. While the rational part of the world is still waiting for some sort of evidence from Pakistan to support these claims, their all-weather friend (friend/owner, you decide) China has stepped in to promote the fake news peddled by Pakistan.

China Daily, a daily newspaper owned by the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party, repeated Khawaja Asif’s claims that 5 Indian jets have been shot down by Pakistan. As mentioned earlier, Khawaja Asif got this information from social media trolls. So now, the claims of these trolls are being reported as facts by China’s propaganda arm as they can cite Pakistan Defense Minister as the source.

Another Chinese state media ‘Global Times’ also promoted this fake news that Pakistan has shot down 5 Indian Jets after India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’. For good measure, Global Times added that Pakistan also shot down 4 Indian quadcopters in retaliatory fire. Embarrassingly for Global Times, they were publicly called out by Indian Embassy in China for spreading disinformation and fanning Pakistan propaganda.

While India-China border tensions have been long ongoing, which increased after Galwan confrontation, and China has always supported Pakistan, not just against India but even otherwise, it was rather surprising to see state propaganda arms pushing these Pakistani lies. Then the reason was revealed. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in Pakistan’s National Assembly that Pakistan was using Made in China J-10C fighter jets against Indian jets.

A Chinese J-10C shooting down a Rafale would be a huge boost to the Made in China fighter jet, so it is hardly surprising that China is invested in keeping this fake news going.

Interestingly, Pakistan’s airspace was also guarded by Made in China products, the HQ-9 and LY-80 (HQ-16) air defense systems, that are often paraded by Islamabad as state-of-the-art solutions against aerial threats. The HQ-9, modeled after Russia’s S-300, is marketed as capable of detecting and neutralizing threats mid-air. Yet, during Operation Sindoor, these systems neither saw the missiles coming nor reacted when they did.

Now, this failure of their air defense systems delivered a serious blow to the reputation of Chinese defense industry so in such a situation, they needed something to defend their industry, and a J-10C shooting down 5 Indian Jets, including a Rafale, was just perfect.

J-10C, like most of the domestically-developed Chinese platforms had not yet been battle-tested till now, so they also needed this fake news of it bringing down a Rafale to show that this fighter jet is good for active combat.

Chinese defense stocks surge after Operation Sindoor

Pakistan is reliant on China for most of its defense requirements. Most of its arms and ammunitions come from China. Over the last 5 years, 81% of its defense hardware imports are reportedly from China. For China as well, Pakistan is a key market as 63% of its defense exports head to Pakistan. With Pakistan buying Billions of Dollars worth of defense equipment from China, it is invested in keeping their lie going that J-10C brought down 5 Indian jets, including Rafale.

In case of direct conflict between India-Pakistan, China is expected to supply more and more arms and ammunition to Pakistan Army to replace the losses suffered during the conflict. Expecting that rise in demand from Pakistan, Chinese defense stocks are surging after Operation Sindoor.

Stocks of AVIC Chengdu Aircraft, which manufactures J-10C have reportedly skyrocketed since Wednesday, when Operation Sindoor was launched by India. AVIC Aerospace, which produces military aircraft and helicopters, also reportedly saw its shares zooming in the Hong Kong market. China State Shipbuilding Corporation, which builds military and civilian vessels, also saw its shares inch up in last 2 days, but not as significantly as AVIC stocks.

That explains it, it is in China’s financial interest that the lie about J-10C shooting down several aircrafts keeps on growing, as it enables them to sell more fighter jets with this enhanced reputation, to not just Pakistan, but to other countries around the world who are in the market for fighter jets. Meanwhile, hopefully, one of these days we will find the debris of these 5 jets that Chinese jets shot down, or maybe the debris just did an MH-370 and disappeared forever.

Pakistani Army says Indian drones targeted several cities including Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi, claims to have shot down 12 Harop loitering munitions

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistani Army says Indian drones targeted several cities including Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi, claims to have shot down 12 Harop loitering munitions

A day after India hit terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir using missiles and drones under Operation Sindoor,the Pakistani Army has claimed that the attacks have continued for the second day. Addressing the media on Thursday, Pakistan Army spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that as many as 9 different places in Pakistan were targeted by Indian drones.

However, he claimed that Pakistani forces shot down 12 Harop drones, adding that they didn’t cause much damage. He said that one drone ‘partially’ engaged its target near Lahore, and four army personnel were injured. Similarly, one civilian was killed and another was injured in Sindh, he claimed.

Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that the drones targeted the sites in Pakistan in the night between 7 and 8 May. As per him, the drones targeted Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Chakwal, Bahawalpur and other places. He also released visuals of what he claimed to be debris of the drones shot by Pakistani forces.

Several images and videos have emerged on social media showing the suicide drones crashing into targets in various places in Pakistan, including Lahore and Karachi.

As per social media users, the drone Lahore hit Walton Road which leads to Lahore cantonment. Similarly, visuals of purported debris of a Harop drone in Malir in Karachi were posted on X by Pakistani users, a day after Pakistan govt lifted the ban on X, formerly Twitter, in the country.

Notably, while the Pakistani army using the term Drone, the IAI Harop is actually a loitering munition, not a drone. It can hover over a target and then hit it on the operator’s command. Unlike drones, IAI Harop are launched from a canister, and they are not designed to return and land. They are actually like guided missiles controlled by an operator, and they are designed to crash into the target and explode, destroying the target.

Darbhanga: Muslims attacked Hindus after verifying religion, 21 accused named in FIR, 4 arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Darbhanga: Muslims attacked Hindus after verifying religion, 21 accused named in FIR, 4 arrested

A shocking incident has come to light from Darbhanga, Bihar, when a group of Muslims reportedly attacked Hindus after verifying their religion. The incident happened on Tuesday (6th May) in the evening in the Jale Police Station when a group of Muslims attacked around a dozen Hindus with sticks and sharp weapons. An FIR has been lodged regarding the incident at the Jale Police Station. Four accused have been arrested by the police while a search for the remaining is going on.

Muslims asked about religion and attacked Hindus.

As per reports, on Tuesday, a minor scuffle happened after the bikes of Hrithik and Noor Alam collided. After the collision, Noor Alam fled. Hrithik, who wanted compensation from Alam, took his bike with him. Later on, their families resolved the dispute, and it was agreed that the bike would be returned the next day. However, a group of Muslims gathered on a local road and started attacking Hindus passing by. They asked the religion of all the people passing through there, and attacked only Hindus. The Muslims used sticks and sharp weapons to attack the Hindu passersby, leaving 11 people seriously injured.

21 accused named in the FIR

Rajkishore Yadav, Ramsagar Yadav, Amit Kumar, Sumit Kumar, Ranjit Kumar, Hrithik Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, Lakshman Yadav, Sonu Kumar and Dinesh Manjhi are among the injured. Three of them, Ramsagar Yadav, Hrithik Yadav, and Sumit Kumar, were referred to Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital. 21 people have been named in the FIR filed on the complaint of the injured. Mohd Irfan Qureshi, Mohd Ibran Qureshi, Mohd. Salman, Qurban Qureshi, Mohd Pappu Qureshi, Aman alias Arman Qureshi, Rizwan Darji, Mohd Meraj, Mohd Reyaz, Mohd Siraj, Mohd Aif, Mohd Imtiaz, Mohd Isahaq, Mohd Sarfaraz, Mohd Raju Qureshi, Mohd Azaz Ahmed, Mohd Shahnawaz Ahmed, Mohd Heera, Mohd Manour Darji, and Iqbal Darji are among the 21 accused named in the FIR.

An investigation into the matter is going on.

Adani Green becomes world’s first renewable energy Independent Power Producer among top 10 players to turn water positive

ANI
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Adani Green becomes world’s first renewable energy Independent Power Producer among top 10 players to turn water positive

Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) becomes world’s first renewable energy (RE) Independent Power Producer (IPP) with a massive over 14 GW operational portfolio to turn water positive across its entire operational portfolio.

The company in a statement on Thursday stated that it has achieved water positivity a year ahead of its FY26 target. It is the first and only among top global 10 (in terms of operational RE portfolio) to ever reach this milestone.

Being water positive means adopting practices that not only save water but also increase water availability in the surroundings.

The company also stated that it has been certified water positive by Intertek, a global assurance firm after conducting comprehensive audits and assessment of AGEL’s water accounting data across 103 operational sites, and 85 water conservation sites. It is also the only renewable energy company in India of this scale to be certified water positive

The development is noteworthy, since the majority of AGEL’s solar and wind plants are in landscapes where survival is a challenge and water is a luxury. Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) has achieved what few thought possible — turning India’s harshest terrains and into sustainability hubs.

From unforgiving and the barren expanses of Khavda, Gujarat, and the arid regions of the Thar desert, AGEL’s water positivity has emerged as an oasis of hope and innovation.

To understand the magnitude of this accomplishment, consider that AGEL’s water conservation is equivalent to about 467 Olympic-sized swimming pools and enough to exceed the half-yearly water demand of Lakshadweep. 85 revitalized ponds now benefit over 1,23,000 people including water-scarce communities.

Over 54 per cent of AGEL’s operational capacity employs robotic cleaning technology for solar modules, saving approximately 546 million litres of water annually.

AGEL’s journey towards this monumental achievement began with a visionary ESG goal to make more than 200 MW of their operational plants water positive. This goal was not only met in FY23 itself, AGEL set out to extend the water positivity goal to the entire operational portfolio by FY26. AGEL has achieved this remarkable target a full year ahead of schedule.

In a country where water scarcity affects millions, this milestone isn’t just corporate success, it’s a sustainability revolution. By leveraging advanced water-saving technologies, such as waterless robotic cleaning of solar panels, deepening of traditional water bodies, rainwater harvesting and various pilot projects such as the clean drinking water condensed from humid air, AGEL is proving that clean energy doesn’t have to come at the cost of precious natural resources.

“We don’t just generate green energy. We build it the greenest way possible” said an AGEL spokesperson.

He added “Climate change will intensify the global water stress and India is among the countries facing the highest level of water security challenges. India has low levels of freshwater available per capita and high levels of utilization. That’s why this achievement matters.”

AGEL’s operating portfolio is certified as water positive, single-use plastic free and zero waste-to-landfill, a testament to the company’s commitment of powering sustainable growth. What started as a bold ESG goal, has now become a nationwide benchmark, placing AGEL, India’s largest RE company at the forefront of the green energy and blue planet movement.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Pakistani Defence Minister runs to CNN boasting about downing Indian jets, fumbles and claims ‘social media’ when asked to show evidence

Rukma Rathore
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Pakistani Defence Minister runs to CNN boasting about downing Indian jets, fumbles and claims ‘social media’ when asked to show evidence

In a bizzare turn of events, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the Defence Minister of Pakistan, has attributed his nation’s claims of having downed five Indian fighter jets, including Rafales during “Operation Sindoor” to ‘social media posts’. Pakistan has been relentless in its propaganda in light of the rising tensions between the two countries.

“It is all on social media, and Indian social media, not our social media. The debris of the jets fell on their side. It is all over the Indian media,” he replied when CNN interviewer Becky Anderson asked him for any concrete evidence to back the claims. “You’re the defence minister, sir. The reason to talk to you today, is not to talk about content all over social media,” she interjected and pointed out that he was not summoned to talk about social media content but rather to present genuine proof.

When she again urged him to substantiate his statement with evidence, inquiring whether any Chinese equipment was utilized to bring down the Rafael jets, he denied and then continued to stumble over his words.

He stated that Pakistan possesses Chinese aircraft that are produced and assembled domestically. He subsequently launched into a tirade about India’s procurement of aircraft from France, declaring that his country could similarly acquire them from China, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom for their own use. “They have already admitted that their three planes are down,” he alleged, disregarding the issue of evidence entirely.

When the persistent anchor pressed him for an explanation about how the Indian jets were shot down and if any Chinese technology was utilized, he delved into yet another nonsensical response and remarked that the incident occurred during a dogfight, further mentioning that missiles were fired from “Pakistani tanks”. He then added that the Indian planes were brought down by JF17 or JF10 “which were involved in the combat.”

“There is a possibility of expansion of this conflict into a full-fledged war, which we are trying to avoid,” he further announced. He referred to Indian strikes as a “clear-cut violation, and an invitation to expand the conflict and maybe convert it into something much wider and much more dangerous for the region.” 

It is ludicrous that a sitting Defence Minister cites ‘social media posts’ to support his claims of shooting down enemy fighter jets. While the evidence of India’s missile strikes against Pakistan’s terrorist infrastructure was presented by Indian forces in an official press briefing, showing the precise location, satellite imagery and drone visuals of bombing, all Pakistan has to claim they shot down Indian jets is “social media posts”.

The destroyed Pakistani buildings after India’s missile strike were all over Pakistani and international media, open for all to see. But for the grand feat of downing five Indian fighter planes, all Pakistan has is unverified claims, and ‘social media posts’ repeating those unverified claims, a loop of blatant lies.

The social media posts are nothing but further unverified claims, deleted posts and unnamed ‘sources’.

India in the night of 6th May targeted terrorist installations such as training camps and launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), at nine locations leading to the elimination of dozens of terrorists after heinous Pahalgam terror attack on 22nd April which claimed the lives of 26 Hindu tourists and wounded several others in the Baisaran Valley. Pakistan has been involved in an outrageous disinformation campaign since India targeted its terror infrastructure.

Where is the proof

Notably, Pakistan has failed to provide video proof or even a photograph of the Indian fighters jets that were allegedly shot down by them. One unconfirmed video that has gone viral on social media showed locals filming an airplane’s underwing. However, the purported Rafale jet’s picture was originally posted in September 2024. Global Times, a Chinese media house, also posted that Pakistan reportedly shot down three Indian fighter jets.

However, the Indian Embassy in China promptly refuted them and asked the outlet to verify facts and scrutinize sources prior to sharing such disinformation. Community Notes also fact-checked the dragon’s propaganda. “There’s no truth to claims about any Indian aircraft being shot down. No evidence, no official word, no credible sources. It’s all dis/misinformation designed to mislead and push fake narratives. Don’t fall for it. Always check the facts,” it read.

The Hindu initially reported that three Indian fighter jets had crashed in the Akhnoor region of Jammu and Kashmir, “according to a government official”. However, the tweet was subsequently removed and the publication confirmed that there was no official information on record from India regarding this incident. Interestingly, The Hindu had shown the images of discarded extra fuel tanks, which are ejected by fighter jets to shed weight during flight.

Pakistani security officials told reporters that their forces shot down an Israeli-made Heron drone, three French-built Rafale fighter jets, one MiG-29 and one Su-30MKI, describing the action as “self-defense,” in a statement. Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry repeated the lies. As expected, he did not present any proof either, including the sites and strategies related to the supposed shootdowns.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has also debunked multiple falsehoods that have been making the rounds on Pakistani social media and other platforms. According to several social media posts, 15 Indian sites were the target of retaliatory assaults, including the destruction of Indian Army infrastructure and fighter jets as well as attacks on Srinagar Airbase. However, these claims lacked reliable proof, such as satellite imagery or verifiable video footage and were primarily spread by accounts connected to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Internal challenges cripple Pakistan Army

While Pakistani officials are preoccupied with discrediting themselves internationally through baseless claims, the Pakistan Army is facing a series of significant problems. Pakistan has resorted to targeting civilians in Jammu and Kashmir out of frustration after India successfully hammered them on 7th May. The Indian forces have also retaliated with equal intensity against the unprovoked and continuous violations.

On the other hand, in a compounded blow to the Pakistani armed forces, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for two attacks in the Bolan and Kech regions of Balochistan province, causing the deaths of 14 soldiers.

Pakistan’s dependence on proxy groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) is being questioned by mid-ranking officers, who contend that these strategies no longer offer plausible deniability and run the risk of widespread Indian retribution. India’s 2019 Balakot airstrike demonstrated that proxy warfare has not changed the situation in Kashmir and made Pakistan more vulnerable to cross-border attacks and diplomatic isolation.

Officers argue that while Pakistan continues to face international penalties, including the FATF grey-listing until 2022, the government only receives symbolic wins. According to the sources, officials are also becoming increasingly concerned about India’s quick mobilization and sophisticated defenses, such as the S-400 missile systems, which could surpass defenses in a traditional conflict. Proxy strikes, like the Poonch ambush in 2023, run the potential to grow more catastrophic.

With inflation at 38% and a debt-to-GDP ratio of 88%, economic difficulties make matters worse by reducing defense spending. The administration imposed austerity measures and reduced the military budget by 15% for 2023–2024. Some units are using crowdsourcing to pay for basic supplies, while junior officers assert delays in hazard pay of three to six months.

Conclusion

Similar to Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, meanwhile, asserted in a speech to the Pakistani parliament that they had shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales and drones. He added that up to 80 Indian planes took part in the operation, again, with zero evidence.

As the economy falters and internal discord persists, the Pakistan Army finds itself besieged from multiple fronts, while the oblivious Pakistan government is busy making ridiculous assertions in an effort to mislead the international community and continue its habit of lies and falsehoods.

However, in their pursuit of these baseless declarations, they have completely failed to recognize that every must be backed by verifiable evidence which is glaringly absent. Nobody in Pakistan has any credible image of deceased pilots, aircraft wreckage or any shred of evidence to support their claim. Even if one takes the argument that the fighter planes Pakistan allegedly shot down fell on the Indian side, the dozens of media personnel swarming all over Jammu and Kashmir and border areas, with the general public equipped with mobile internet, have nothing so far to support the claim.

SkyStriker drones, used in Operation Sindoor, are made in India: Read about the loitering munitions that can locate and target with precision

OpIndia Staff
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SkyStriker drones, used in Operation Sindoor, are made in India: Read about the loitering munitions that can locate and target with precision

India successfully carried out precision strikes at nine locations linked with Jaish-e-Muhammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba under Operation Sindoor in the early hours of 7th May, using precision strike weapons from the Army, Navy and Air Force. These precision weapons included SkyStriker drones, a loitering munition, which was included by the Indian Army in their arsenal for the first time after the Balakot Air Strikes. The Indian Army signed a contract for the acquisition of 120 SkyStriker drones in 2021 under its emergency procurement powers amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.

Precision strikes, accuracy in locating a target

SkyStriker drones, also known as Low-Cost Miniature Swarm Drones, or Loitering Munition Systems (LMS), are being manufactured in Bengaluru by Adani’s Alpha Design in collaboration with Israel’s Elbit System. With their aerial precision and manoeuvring capabilities, the drones provide a critical advantage in a modern battlefield. A SkyStriker drone is a cost-effective, low-maintenance, long-range weapon which can hit as far as 100 km. It has compact storage which can carry a warload of up to 10 kg in its fuselage. The suicide drone loiters in the air till it locates its designated target and then crashes into it. It can hover for 2 hours with a warload of 5kg and for 1 hour with a warload of 10 kg. It uses an electric propulsion system, which enhances its stealth features by generating minimum noise and vibration, making it suitable for covert operations at low altitudes.

Image via Elbit Systems

Capable of supporting conventional military troops

The Skystriker drone is an expendable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which is entirely autonomous. It can track and engage a target designated by the operator. The drone provides great operational flexibility to its operator with features like aborting an attack and re-engaging a target. An operator can abort a strike up to 2 seconds before the attack and can re-engage if required. In case no targets are identified, the drone can return home. It also allows an operator to hit a target from any direction and at multiple angles with a SkyStriker drone. It can dive at a speed of 300 knots and can operate effectively against a wind speed of up to 20 knots. The drone is also capable of supporting conventional military troops on the ground as well as special forces requiring precision strikes.

Loitering munitions have significantly enhanced the military capabilities of the armed forces as they allow the forces to strike a target with precision without requiring the direct engagement of personnel.

15 civilians killed, 57 injured as Pakistan continues artillery shelling on civilian areas across the LoC

OpIndia Staff
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15 civilians killed, 57 injured as Pakistan continues artillery shelling on civilian areas across the LoC

Pakistan continues to violate the ceasefire across the Line of Control (LoC). Locals in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir are bearing the brunt of heavy artillery shelling by the Pakistan Army across the LoC since the night of May 7 in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.

A local woman in Uri stated, “There was relentless shelling. We were sleeping and suddenly we heard the sound. We went outside and a bombshell fell on our house. Everyone at home was injured and admitted to Baramulla Hospital. The house of my brother also got burnt. There is no food left. We have lost our house. Both our houses are completely damaged. There should be peace.”

Another local reiterated that there was heavy shelling during the night. “We have faced too much losses due to heavy shelling. Two bombshells fell on our house. Two small kids were injured. There is no food. Everything is lost. There is no place to stay. The government should think about our kids,” the local said.

The Indian Army has proportionately responded to the unprovoked small-arms and artillery firing by the Pakistani Army across the Line of Control (LoC) during the night of May 7 and May 8, as per the officials. The Pakistan Army had resorted to firing in Kupwara and Baramulla districts and Uri and Akhnoor sectors in Jammu and Kashmir.

“During the night of May 7-8, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked fire using small arms and artillery guns from across the LoC in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, and Akhnoor areas in J&K. The Indian Army responded proportionately,” the statement from the Indian Army stated.

Following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Pakistan has repeatedly resorted to unprovoked small arms firing across the LoC, to which India has responded accordingly. The Indian Army is closely monitoring the ceasefire violations by Pakistan after the Indian forces conducted the precise strikes on nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir under Operation Sindoor on Wednesday, May 7.

The strikes were aimed at avenging the Pahalgam attack victims and eliminating key Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leaders and camps involved in planning attacks on Indian soil.

Pakistan kills 15 innocent civilians in Poonch and Tangdhar

Earlier, 15 innocent civilians were killed and 43 were injured in artillery firing by the Pakistan Army since yesterday night, which has hit civilian areas in Poonch and Tangdhar, defence sources said on Wednesday. Pakistan Army targeted civilian areas in the border areas.

The shelling caused panic among villagers and damaged several houses. After Operation Sindoor, the Pakistan Army continued its series of ceasefire violations by targeting civilian areas in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. Officials said the shelling caused panic among villagers and damaged several houses.

Shelling by Pakistan damaged civilian infrastructure, shattered window panes and cracked walls.

Schools in the border areas of Rajasthan to remain closed till further notice

Meanwhile, with Pakistan targeting civilian areas across the border, all government and private schools in the border districts of Rajasthan, including Barmer, Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar and Jaisalmer, have declared a holiday until further notification.

In Barmer, a border district on the India-Pakistan border, a holiday has been declared in government and private schools. From Thursday until further notice, the schools will be closed.

In Bikaner too, all government and private schools have been closed from today. District Collector Namrata Vrishni, using the powers conferred in Section 30 of Chapter 4 of the Disaster Management Act 2005, has declared a holiday till further orders for the students of all government and private schools up to class 12, including CBSE schools, Anganwadis and Madrasas for the safety of school children in view of the national security and emergency situation in the district.

In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, a holiday has been declared in government and non-government schools and madrasas in Sri Ganganagar as well, another border district. A holiday has also been declared in government and non-government schools and madrasas in Jaisalmer.

Rajouri residents returning home after being forced to flee due to Pakistani shelling

Residents in border villages in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri are returning to their homes on Thursday morning after they were forced to flee their homes in panic, seeking safety in the wake of the intense shelling by Pakistan on Wednesday. According to the villagers who returned today, the shelling has caused significant damage to residential properties, with people fleeing the areas along with their whole families as well as livestock.

Brahmins single largest caste, 4000+ castes in India – Read about 1931 caste census conducted by the British which eventually led to ‘Mandal-Kamandal’ politics 6 decades later

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Brahmins single largest caste, 4000+ castes in India – Read about 1931 caste census conducted by the British which eventually led to ‘Mandal-Kamandal’ politics 6 decades later

The Political Affairs Committee of the Union Cabinet of the Modi government recently approved the caste census in India. Caste-wise data will be collected across the country along with the new census. While the opposition tried to claim credit for it saying it is the effect of its pressure, the Modi government explained how the Congress and the I.N.D.I. Alliance have been constantly cheating the people on this matter. It is yet not clear when this caste-wise data will be out in public. The government has also not set any time limit for the next census.

Caste census has been a popular word in Indian politics for the past few years. Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, RJD in Bihar and Congress at the national level have made a lot of noise about it. Along with the announcement of this new caste census, the country’s first caste census is also being discussed. It was conducted in 1931 under British rule. A lot of the information that came to light in the census conducted in 1931 is still relevant in Indian politics even after over 90 years.

Why did the British conduct caste census?

The Modi government has said that it has taken the decision to conduct the caste census so that the society remains economically and socially strong and the progress of the country continues without any hindrance. In the present context, this caste census is being conducted so that information about the socially backward people in the country can be known, but the British had some other reasons behind conducting this caste census.

The British used to adopt different methods to maintain their control over India, Caste census was one such method. Through caste census, the British wanted to know which caste group is strong in which area and can become a problem for them. Apart from this, they also wanted to weaken the caste movements going on in the country at that time, because these movements sometimes rose from caste basis and later became a symbol of opposition to the British.

JH Hutton, who was the Census Commissioner of India at the time of the caste census, has also written about these demonstrations and movements in his 1931 report. Another reason for the British to conduct the caste census was that at that time, recruitment in the British Army was based on caste on a large scale. The British Army had many caste-based regiments including the Jat Regiment, Mahar Regiment, Rajput Regiment. The British called many castes ‘martial races’.

In such a situation, the British wanted to strengthen their army accordingly by knowing the nationwide statistics. The caste-based census would have made it clear to them which castes could be recruited in large numbers. Apart from all this, one advantage of the data was to strengthen the administrative structure for the British. There were many castes which were in government service in large numbers during the British rule. The British had also collected information about all these.

What were the results?

This caste census conducted by the British was quite difficult. In the report, Hutton has stated that sometimes people give wrong caste and sometimes they changed their caste within 10 years. Apart from this, it has been stated in the report that many people did not even want to get counted in the caste census.

This census revealed that the population of India (as of today) was about 27 crores. The number of different castes within this was stated. The report revealed that at that time, Brahmins were the single largest caste in India.

As per the report, in 1931, there was more than 1.5 crore Brahmin population in the country. The report states that at that time, there were more than 14 lakh Brahmins in Bengal, while there were about 9 lakh Brahmins in Odisha and Bihar. Apart from this, there were more than 11 lakh Brahmins in Bombay state. There were also 14 lakh 73 thousand Brahmins in Madras.

Jatavs were the second largest group in India at the time as per this caste census. Their number was 1.2 crore, while Rajputs were the third largest group with a population of 81 lakh. Apart from this, castes like Ahir, Teli, Gwala, Kayastha and Kumhar were also in large numbers. Each of these castes had population in excess of 30 lakh.

It was revealed in this census that there were 4000+ castes in the country. However, the number of castes kept on increasing later. Even then there were many problems in the society regarding caste, which were collected by the data collectors for this report.

1931 caste census continued to influence politics even after independence

This caste census conducted in 1931 continued to influence Indian politics for decades to come. It was stated in this report that the total population of Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the country is 52%. On this basis, politics like ‘backwards should get 60 out of 100’ started. This politics later on turned into Mandal-Kamandal politics.

On the basis of this census findings, the Mandal Commission was formed. On the basis of the Mandal Commission report, Vishwanath Pratap Singh’s government decided to extend reservation benefits to those castes. Earlier, they were not provided reservation, and only scheduled castes and scheduled tribes used to get reservation.

When VP Singh’s government extended reservation to OBCs, Mandal Commission was strongly opposed in the country with protests breaking out all across India. After 1990, caste-based politics also gained momentum. The main reason behind this was the Mandal Commission recommendations and their implementation by VP Singh, and the basis of the Mandal Commission report was this 1931 caste census prepared by the British.

After more than 30 years of this decision by VP Singh, caste politics has once again gained momentum. Opposition parties tried to target the government over the caste census, but after this decision by the Modi government, their main issue to target the government has slipped out of their hands.

It is not clear yet when the new census will be held, but it is definitely clear that this caste politics exists only as long as it is being hyped up. Be it Karnataka or Bihar, after the caste-based survey comes, there is no further action. The caste census reports have been gathering dust ever since they came out in those states.

A few castes have benefited the most from reservation since 1990, if more castes are added to the reservation pool after caste census, these few electorally influential castes will suffer the most, hence they will oppose it. In such a situation, the parties of the I.N.D.I. Alliance only make noise about caste census, but do not make any action plan for the future after the caste census, as nobody really wants to rock the boat.


Operation Sindoor: Read complete details of the 9 terror camps of LeT, JeM and HuM in Pakistan and PoK destroyed by Indian forces

OpIndia Staff
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Operation Sindoor: Read complete details of the 9 terror camps of LeT, JeM and HuM in Pakistan and PoK destroyed by Indian forces

Launching an offensive against terrorist launch pads located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Indian defence forces carried out precision strikes on 9 terror camps in the wee hours of Wednesday (7th May). The strikes carried out in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack were codenamed ‘Operation Sindoor’. Indian forces missiles, glide bombs, Loitering munitions and other state-of-the art weapons to hit the terror bases in Pakistan and PoK.

Here is a list of the 9 targets hit by India, which terror group operates them and what activities are held there, along with other details.

1. Markaz Subhan Allah of Jaish-e-Mohammad, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur of Punjab province is the main centre of JeM for training and indoctrination of youth. It is located at NH-5 (Karachi- Torkham Highway) on the outskirts of Bahawalpur at Karachi Mor, and is spread over a 15-acre area. It is located around 100 km away from internation border.

This centre serves as the operational headquarter of JeM and associated with terrorist plannings including Pulwama attack on Feb 14, 2019. Perpetrators of Pulwama attack were trained at this camp. The Markaz also consists of residences of JeM Chief Maulana Masood Azhar, de-facto Chief of JeM Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Maulana Ammar and other family members.

However, currently Maulana Masood Azhar does not live there as he under the protective custody of Pak authorities at an undisclosed location in Islamabad or Rawalpindi. In his absence, Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar runs the operations of JeM.

JeM conducts regular arms, physical and religious training for its cadres at Markaz Subhan Allah. Senior JeM functionaries such as Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar and other brothers of Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of JeM and his brother-in-law, Yusuf Azhar @ Ustad Ghouri, head of JeM’s (armed) wing reside in this premises.

Besides these senior JeM leaders, the complex also houses more than 600 cadres. Maulana Rafiqullah, former religious trainer at Markaz Usman-o-Ali, is chief instructor at this Markaz since mid-2022. Markaz Subhan Allah was built with the help of both the provincial and federal governments of Pakistan, apart from funds raised by JeM from some Gulf and African countries including the UK. It is operational since 2015.

The facility has a gymnasium, and a swimming pool for swimming and deep-water diving courses for JeM cadres. Horse stables and Riding Ground was added to the facility in 2022. JeM imparts 6 days archery training to its cadres and Shura members at the Markaz.

As per Indian authorities, on 30 November 2024, Maulana Masood Azhar visited the Markaz after a gap of two years and addressed the cadres.

Apart from proscribed as terrorist organisation by India, USA, UK and several other countries, Pakistan also officially banned JeM in 2002 after the terror attack on Indian parliament in 2001. But continues to carry out its terror activities from its headquarters in Markaz Subhan Allah.

2. Markaz Taiba of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Muridke, Pakistan

Markaz Taiba is the ‘alma mater’ and the most important training centre of Lashkar-e-Taiba, located in Nangal Sahdan, Muridke, Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan. Established in 2000, the centre is spread across 82 acres, and is comprises of madrassa, market, residential area for terror entities, sports facility, a fish farm and agricultural tracts.

The complex holds arms and physical trainings facility, as well as for dawa’h and radicalisation/ indoctrination for terror entities both from within Pakistan and abroad. There are separate Sufa education centres for men and women for religious indoctrination of male and female cadres.

This markaz enrols around 1000 students in different courses annually, therefore this markaz plays a crucial role in churning out terror entities for LeT annually. As per Indian authorities, Osama Bin Laden had financed Rs 10 million for construction of Mosque & Guest House within the Markaz Taiba complex in the year 2000.

Notably, all the perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai attack including Ajmal Kasab were imparted intelligence training at this facility. David Coleman Headly & Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the prime conspirators of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, had visited this centre along with Abdul Rehman Sayed @ Pasha, Haroon and Khurram (co-conspirators) on instructions of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.

LeT ideologues Amir Hamza, Abdul Rehman Abid and Zafar Iqbal reside in the premises of this Markaz. LeT commanders Khubaib, Isa and Qasim frequently visit this Markaz. Hafiz Saeed and other terror entities of LeT, including Zaki Ur Rehman Lakhvi, also have houses in this facility. They regularly visit to supervise the radicalisation activities being conducted from this Markaz.

Pertinently, this Markaz is considered fountainhead for LeT terrorism, as Dawa’h from other sects of Islam to Ahle Hadith (being followed by LeT) is being conducted here only. This markaz provides the strategy to LeT, and also religious justification for Ghazwat-ul-Hind. LeT is designated as a Terrorist Organisation by many countries including India, USA and the UK, and is on the UNSC terror list. But Pakistan continues to allow it to operate from its soils.

3. Sarjal / Tehra Kalan facility of Jaish-e-Mohammad, Sarjal, Pakistan

Tehra Kalan or Sarjal facility is the main launching site of JeM for infiltration of terrorists into J&K. It is located in the Shakargarh Tehsil of Narowal District in Punjab, Pakistan. This facility is located inside the premises of a Primary Health Center in Tehra Kalan Village of Sarjal area so as to conceal its real purpose. Notably, Pakistsan’s ISI have facilitated setting up of such launch facilities along IB & LoC in Govt. buildings to hide/conceal terror infrastructure.

This JeM facility holds special prominence due to its close proximity of around 06 km from IB in Samba Sector of Jammu, J&K. This facility serves as the base for the digging of cross-border tunnels for infiltration of terrorists. ISI and JeM have developed a network of underground tunnels in Shakargarh area which is used for infiltration of JeM cadres into India. All the tunnels which have been dug across the border in Arnia-Jammu Sector are handiwork of the handlers from this facility.

Sarjal facility also serves as the launching base for drones by which arms/ammunition/narcotics and items are dropped into Indian territory. JeM has also been planning use of drones for infiltrating JeM terrorist into India aerially using drones. This facility therefore serves as an important terror base.

This facility also has a control room, in which the HF radio receivers and other communication facilities being used by the terrorists of JeM and Hizbul-Mujahideen are located. Instructions to terrorists operating in J&K are being communicated through encrypted mode from the facility.

The complex consists of single storey buildings wherein 6/7 rooms near first entrance are used by doctors and staff members of PHC for health check-up of patient/public. The two quarters near the parking and a hall are being used by JeM for their operational commanders and cadres. 20 – 25 JeM terrorists usually remain stationed at this facility to supervise infiltration attempts and terrorist activities of infiltrated terrorists in India.

JeM terrorist commanders Mohammad Adnan Ali @ Doctor and Kashif Jan regularly visit this JeM’s facility. Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, de-facto chief of JeM, supervises operations of JeM from through JeM operatives based at this facility. Pertinently, Adnan is known by alias of Doctor as he operates from this Facility which operates from Primary Health Center. Adnan and Kashif Jan are UA(P) Act designated individual terrorists.

Kashif Jan was the main JeM handler and conspirator who had planned and executed 2016 terror attack at Air Force Station in Pathankot.

4. Mehmoona Joya Facility of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Sialkot, Pakistan

Mehmoona Joya facility of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) is located near Kotli Bhutta Govt. Hospital in Head Marala area of Sialkot District of Punjab, Pakistan. This is one among several such terror camps running from government buildings in Pakistan with ISI’s assistance.

This facility is used for infiltration of HM cadres into Jammu region of J&K. Hizbul Mujahideen cadres are also given training for terrorist operations and handling of weapons by the senior commanders at this facility.

Mohd. Irfan Khan @ Irfan Tanda is commander of this facility. He has been involved in several terror attacks in Jammu region, including the series of blasts carried out on 26 Jan 1995 in Maulana Azad Stadium of Jammu leaving 08 persons dead and 50 injured. The then Governor Shri K.V.Krishna Rao narrowly escaped the attack led by Tanda.

Irfan Tanda has led several infiltration bids from this facility into J&K, and handles transportation and smuggling of weapons for valley based terrorists from this facility. Several Hizbul commanders including Atta Al Rehman Alfezey @ Abu Lala, Maaz Bhai, Irfan Ghumman and others operate from this facility.

The facility consists of single-story concrete buildings having three rooms, one kitchen and one bathroom respectively. Quarters of the nearby hospital in the vicinity of facility is used to accommodate HM cadres. This facility can accommodate approximately 50 cadres at a time and around 20 – 25 terrorists are usually present at this facility at any point of time overseeing infiltration bids and terrorist operations in India.

5. Markaz Ahle Hadith of Lashkar-e-Taiba in Barnala, PoK

Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala is one of the important Markaz of LeT in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir and is used for infiltration of LeT terrorists and arms/ammunition into Poonch – Rajauri – Reasi sector. It is situated at outskirts of Barnala town on Kote Jamel road and is at a distance of 500 metres from Barnala town and 200 metre from Kote Jemel road.

This facility can accommodate 100 -150 cadres, and around 40 – 50 cadres are usually present at this Markaz, supervising terror activities being organised from there. This Markaz is also utilised as staging centre for LeT terrorists before infiltrating into Indian territory.

Several LeT operatives operate from this Markaz and reside in its vicinity, including Qasim Gujjar @ Mahrore, Qasim Khanda, Anas Jarar and others. Central LeT/JuD leaders also visit this Markaz for organising and supervising terrorist activities across the border.

6. Markaz Abbas of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Kotli, PoK

Markaz Saidna Hazrat Abbas Bin Abdul Mutalib (Markaz Abbas) of JeM is located in Mohalla Roli Dhara Bypass Road, Kotli, Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This Markaz is located approx. 02 km south-east of Kotli Military Camp.

This building can accommodate around 100 – 125 JeM cadres and 40 – 50 terrorists are present within premises of this Markaz at any point of time.

Hafiz Abdul Shakoor @ Qari Zarrar, is head of this Markaz. He is one of the founding members of JeM and part of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) terrorists who had left HuM and founded JeM along with Maulana Masood Azhar. Qari Zarrar lives in the three-storey building located adjacent to Markaz Abbas.

Qari Zarrar is directly involved in planning and execution of terrorist attacks in J&K. He is wanted accused by NIA for attack on Indian Army Camp near Baleeni Bridge, Nagrota, Jammu on Nov 29, 2016. He is also involved in fund raising for JeM through his contacts in Afghanistan. Other JeM terrorists based at Markaz Abbas of Kotli include Qari Maaz (son of Qari Zarrar), Mohammad Maviya Khan, Tahir Nazir and Abu Bakr.

7. Maskar Raheel Shahid of Hizbul-Mujahideen in Kotli, PoK

Located at approx. 2.5 kms from Mahuli Puli (a bridge on Mahuli Nalla on Mirpur-Kotli road) in Kotli District, PoJK, Maskar Rahil Shahid is one of the oldest facilities of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). It is a secluded facility and accessible only via a kuchcha track.

The camp is located in hilly area and comprises of barracks, four rooms being used for keeping arms & ammunition, office and for residential purpose for terrorists. A new facility for accommodation of cadres and instructors has been constructed in this campus. A special designated electricity line is provided to this camp in this otherwise secluded area. This camp is located in heavy forest cover.

It can accommodate around 150 – 200 HM terrorists. Around 25 – 30 HM terrorists are usually present at this facility supervising terrorist activities being organised at this camp. HM terrorists visit this facility particularly for taking arms firing training and specialized physical training. In addition to providing conventional arms / physical training, this Camp specialises in training cadres for BAT/ sniping actions. Terrorist cadres are taken to nearby hilly area for training regarding fighting in hilly area. Survival training is also imparted at this camp.

Earlier Hizbul Mujahideen Head Syed Salahuddin used to himself welcome newly recruited terrorist cadres at this facility and supervise training activities being held here. At present the camp is being supervised by one Abu Maaz, who along with Abdul Rehman imparts training.

Large amount of propaganda material including posters, photos and videos of slain HM terrorists are kept at this camp and used to radicalize and motivate HM cadres to carry out violent ‘Jihad’ against India.

8. Shawai Nallah Camp of Lashkar-e-Taiba,  Muzaffarabad, PoK

Shawai Nallah Camp is one of the most important camps of LeT and is used for recruitment, registration and training of LeT cadres. This camp has been functional since early 2000.

The camp is located near Chelabandi bridge on Muzaffarabad- Neelum Road, Muzaffarabad, PoK. Also known as Huzaifa Bin Yemen and Bait-ul-Mujahideen camp, this camp includes a firing range, training ground, LeT Madrassa for cadres, and around 40 rooms.

The Shawai Nallah Camp has a large accommodation for LeT cadres along with residences for LeT terrorist commanders & instructors. This facility is used as base camp for imparting Daura-e-Aam training, which includes religious indoctrination, physical training, tactical training regarding use of GPS, map reading and arms training for rifles and grenades. LeT head Hafiz Saeed used to welcome new inductees to this camp on their arrival. After completion of initial training at this camp, cadres are sent to other LeT camps for further terrorist training.

This camp is also used from time to time to organize specialized weapons training for LeT cadres. LeT has been using this camp for organizing refresher courses for its already trained commanders/cadres. ISI also facilitates holding trainings at this camp by providing trainers of Pak Army to provide weapons training to LeT terrorists.

Shawai Nallah Camp can accommodate 200 -250 cadres, and around 50 – 100 cadres are usually present undergoing various terror activities being organised at this camp. Ajmal Kasab and other terrorists involved in 26/11 had undergone training in this camp. This camp forms a very important infrastructure for initial indoctrination and training of LeT terrorists.

This camp is also utilized as staging camp for LeT terrorists before infiltrating into Indian territory. LeT terrorists camping here are sent to launching facilities located bordering North Kashmir including such facilities located in Athmuqam, Leepa, Dudniyal, Tejian & Kel.

LeT commander Abu Dujana is in-charge of the camp and is assisted by Qamar Bhai, who looks after training schedules for cadres. This camp is frequently visited by several senior LeT commanders. Office of LeT’s front organisation Jamaat-ud-Dawa, located in Chela Bandi of Muzaffarabad, facilitates operations of this camp. There has been a resurgence in activities in this camp since 2023 and construction works have been going on to increase the capacity of this camp to accommodate more LeT cadres for training.

9. Syedna Bilal Markaz of Jaish-e-Mohammad, Muzaffarabad, PoK

Syedna Bilal Masjid is the main centre of JeM in PoK, located opposite Red Fort, Muzaffarabad. Jaish-e-Mohammad’s Office cum Transit Camp is located on the first floor adjacent to the building of Syedna Bilal Masjid. This facility is spread over 08-10 Kanals, and has family quarters, office building and office of Al-Rehmat Trust, charity wing of JeM.

This facility is used as a transit camp for JeM terrorists prior to their launching into J&K. At any point of time 50-100 cadres resides in this facility. Additionally training by Pakistani Special Forces, SSG, is imparted here, as indicted from the photographs retrieved from phones of killed JeM terrorists.

JeM operational commander and JeM head of PoJK, Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri is in-charge of the facility. Several JeM terrorists including Abdullah Jehadi@ Abdullah Kashmiri, Aashiq Nengroo and others.

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