'Felt ground shake': Border villagers recall strikes on Pak terror camps, fear war
Villagers in Rajasthan's border districts said they heard thunderous explosions around 1 am on Wednesday as Indian armed forces launched precision missile strikes on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan's Bahawalpur — a retaliatory operation targeting the base of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack.
The strikes, aimed at nine terror installations, marked one of India's most significant military responses to cross-border terrorism in recent years. Bahawalpur, the headquarters of JeM and Pakistan's sixth-largest city, was hit the hardest, top government sources confirmed.
In Khajuwala, Rao Wala and Ghadisana — villages located just miles from the international border — residents were jolted awake by the sound of missiles piercing the night sky.
"We heard several loud explosions at around 1 am. It felt like the ground was shaking. Our security forces have avenged the Pahalgam terror attack, and we feel safe under Prime Minister Modi's leadership," said a villager in Khajuwala.
Another villager also hailed the armed forces, but expressed her concern over growing threats of war between the two countries.
"The attack has been answered. But now we fear what might come next. No one wants war. Everyone in the country must stay united in this tense moment," she said.
Several villagers said they rushed to gather with neighbours after hearing the blasts.
"The explosions were deafening. I ran to find my family. Soon, the entire village had gathered at one spot — no one wanted to be alone," said another local from Ghadisana.
The Indian Air Force and Army have carried out the joint operation targeting camps operated by JeM, the terror outfit responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam strike that left 26 people dead.
Following the strike, precautionary measures were taken in civilian zones near the border. Several schools in Bikaner district were shut temporarily, officials said, citing safety concerns due to the proximity of the cross-border action.
(With inputs from Ravi Bishnoi.)
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