New Delhi: High-resolution satellite imagery released by Maxar Technologies and accessed by Reuters has revealed extensive damage to major terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan’s Bahawalpur and Muridke, following precision missile strikes by the Indian Armed Forces under Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday.
The strikes were launched in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people, most of them tourists. Targeted in the operation were key strongholds of proscribed terrorist groups Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Significant Damage at JeM Headquarters in Bahawalpur
Before-and-after images of Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah—part of the Markaz Subhan Allah complex in Bahawalpur, identified as JeM’s operational headquarters—show substantial destruction. The pre-strike images depict an intact mosque and surrounding buildings, while post-strike visuals reveal large craters in the mosque’s dome, collapsed structures, and widespread debris.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army, addressing the media, confirmed the strike’s success, stating:
“Markaz Subhan Allah was the operational headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed, located around 100 km inside Pakistani territory. It has been destroyed.”
Operational since 2015, Markaz Subhan Allah housed senior JeM leadership, including Maulana Masood Azhar, Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, and Maulana Ammar. It has been a key site for arms training, religious indoctrination, and the planning of terrorist operations—most notably the 2019 Pulwama attack.
Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Markaz Taiba in Muridke Also Targeted
Similar damage was reported at Markaz Taiba in Muridke, a critical base for LeT, often referred to as the group’s ‘alma mater’. Satellite images of the complex show a stark contrast between the intact, expansive infrastructure in pre-strike visuals and the widespread structural devastation captured after the operation.
Established in 2000, Markaz Taiba serves as the primary training facility for LeT, offering arms, physical, and religious training. It enrols approximately 1,000 individuals annually and has played a significant role in the radicalisation and militarisation of recruits, both from within Pakistan and internationally.
Colonel Qureshi noted that Markaz Taiba is situated about 18 to 25 km inside Pakistani territory.
“This facility trained those involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, including Ajmal Kasab and David Headley,” she added.
According to Indian intelligence, Osama bin Laden had personally financed the construction of a mosque and guest house within the Muridke compound, contributing ₹10 million to the project.
Strategic Impact
Operation Sindoor marks one of the most significant cross-border counter-terrorism strikes by India in recent years. The visual confirmation of damage at two of Pakistan’s most prominent terror training centres underlines the scale and precision of the operation.
