Latest news with #Daura-e-Ribbat
India Gazette
08-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Pakistan: Terror hotbed in Muridke turns into rubble after India's strike
Muridke [Pakistan], May 8 (ANI): Following India's precision strikes on terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) on Wednesday, the terror hotbed in Muridke has been turned into rubble. The Markaz Taiba in Muridke, is the most important training centre of Lashkar-e-Taiba. The complex holds arms and physical trainings facility, as well as dawa'h and radicalisation for terror entities both from within Pakistan and abroad. This Markaz enrols around 1000 students in different courses annually. All the perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai attack including Ajmal Kasab were imparted 'Daura-e-Ribbat' (intelligence training) at this facility. David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the prime conspirators of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, had visited Muridke on instructions of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. The visuals obtained by Reuters show the terror infrastructure completely damaged after the strikes conducted by Indian forces. Sheikhupura District Additional Deputy Commissioner, Usman Jaleesm, said four buildings have been demolished following India's strikes, according to Reuters. Jaleesm said, 'Around midnight, the first two missiles were fired by India in the premises, and the other two attacks were carried out after a brief gap, and the whole four attacks were carried out in less than ten minutes. Four buildings have been demolished, one is the admin block and the mosque, and additionally two residences.' Satellite pictures from Maxar Technologies obtained by Reuters show damage caused by Indian missile strikes on the Jamia Mosque in Bahawalpur and Muridke cities of Pakistan. The satellite images show how the area looked before the strike and after the strike. India, on early Wednesday, carried out precision strikes at the terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Operation Sindoor, launched by Indian forces, targeted nine sites, which were successfully hit. According to a report filed by Reuters, a resident of Muridke described the situation at the location of the strike on Wednesday. The resident said, 'It was 12:45 in night and we were sleeping. First a drone came, then three more. The drone attack destroyed the administrative office and the roof of the mosque. One officer was sitting on the roof, he was killed'. Another local resident said, 'Fear spread among the people, people went out into the fields, into open spaces, this is how the night passed in fear.' Meanwhile, the Indian Armed Forces on Wednesday provided detailed insights into Operation Sindoor. Addressing a press briefing in Delhi on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh outlined the objectives of the operation. A total of nine terror sites in Pakistan, including five in Pojk, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (Let) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (Jem), were targeted with meticulous planning to avoid civilian casualties. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh elaborated on the operation's strategic intent, stating, ''Operation Sindoor' was a retaliation to the horrific Pahalgam terror attack of April 22 to serve justice to the innocent victims and their families. Nine terror camps were targeted and destroyed.' She revealed that Pakistan has maintained a complex terror infrastructure for three decades, comprising 21 recruitment, indoctrination, and launch pad centres across Pakistan and PoJK. 'The targets for Operation Sindoor were based on credible intelligence inputs and locations that were so selected to avoid damage to civilian infrastructure and loss of civilian lives,' Singh added, underscoring the operation's precision. The strikes, executed between 1:05 am and 1:30 am on Wednesday, involved a coordinated effort by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, targeting key facilities like the JeM and LeT bases in Pakistan as well as PoJK. (ANI)
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Visuals show LeT's Muridke Markaz Taiba reduced to rubble after Operation Sindoor
Markaz Taiba Muridke camp bombed Markaz Taiba India's precision strike on Markaz Taiba Lashkar-e-Taiba 's (LeT) training centre in Muridke of Pakistan's Punjab, has turned the facility into visuals obtained by news agency Reuters show the terror infrastructure completely damaged after the strikes by Indian to Usman Jaleesm, additional deputy commissioner of Sheikhupura district under which Muridke falls, India targeted the Lashkar premises with four attacks in a span of less than 10 minutes, destroying four said, "Around midnight, the first two missiles were fired by India in the premises, and the other two attacks were carried out after a brief gap. The four attacks were carried out in less than ten minutes. Four buildings have been demolished, one is the admin block and the mosque, and additionally two residences."Another local resident said, "Fear spread among the people, people went out into the fields, into open spaces, this is how the night passed in fear."India, on early Wednesday, launched precision strikes at the terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Under " Operation Sindoor ," nine sites, including Markaz Taiba, were targeted and successfully the nine sites, four are in Pakistan and five in PoK. The targets, linked to LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen, were hit with meticulous planning to avoid civilian Markaz Taiba in Muridke, is the most important training centre of LeT. The complex holds arms and physical training facilities, as well as "dawa'h" and radicalisation for terror entities both from within Pakistan and enrols around 1,000 students in different courses annually. All the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, including Ajmal Kasab, were imparted "Daura-e-Ribbat'" (intelligence training) at this facility. David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the prime conspirators of the Mumbai attacks, had visited Muridke on the instructions of terrorist Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Lashkar's was recently extradited from the United States to India.
News18
07-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
India's 24-Minute Blitzkrieg Targeted Camps Osama Bin Laden Built, Trained Ajmal Kasab
Last Updated: In 24 minutes, India struck nine locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir frequented by Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. Operation Sindoor began in the early hours of Wednesday with a swift and synchronised series of missile strikes targeting key terror hubs deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Within a tightly coordinated 24-minute window, Indian forces neutralised nine high-value sites linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and dealt a decisive blow, crippling the operational infrastructure of both groups. The first strike took place at 1:04 am at the Abbas Terrorist Camp in Kotli, believed to be a nerve centre for training Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) operatives. This location served as a vital hub, hosting over 50 active operatives undergoing advanced fidayeen-level preparation. The attack was calibrated to ensure key infrastructure was destroyed, leaving no scope for reactivation in the near term. The site, known as Markaz Saidna Hazrat Abbas Bin Abdul Mutalib or Markaz Abbas, lies very close to Kotli Military Camp in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). It is headed by JeM founding member and terrorist Qari Zarrar. Between 1:06 am and 1:10 am, the Indian military launched multiple rounds at the Lashkar-e-Taiba's largest camp in Muridke, widely regarded as the group's central headquarters. This facility was responsible not only for large-scale training but also for strategic command functions. The strike is said to have caused extensive damage, with sources indicating a 'complete destruction" of the main compound and adjacent training blocks. Markaz Taiba, established in 2000 in Nangal Sahdan, Muridke (Punjab, Pakistan), is Lashkar-e-Taiba's main training hub. Spread over 82 acres, the complex includes a madrassa, residential zones for terrorists, a market, sports grounds, a fish farm and agricultural land. It serves as a centre for arms training, physical drills, and radicalisation programmes for recruits from Pakistan and abroad. The Markaz Taiba complex in Muridke is not only the primary training ground for Lashkar-e-Taiba but also holds deep historical and operational significance. In 2000, Osama Bin Laden funded Rs 10 million for constructing a mosque and guest house within the premises. The site later became instrumental in planning the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Under Pakistan's ISI's guidance, all perpetrators of the attack, including Ajmal Kasab, received intelligence training or Daura-e-Ribbat here. The facility also hosted key conspirators David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who visited along with Abdul Rehman Sayed alias Pasha, Haroon, and Khurram, as directed by LeT operations chief Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. The Markaz houses several top LeT ideologues such as Amir Hamza, Abdul Rehman Abid, and Zafar Iqbal, while commanders like Khubaib, Isa, and Qasim are known to frequent the site. Notably, Hafiz Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi also maintain residences within the compound, making it a central node in LeT's terror infrastructure. At 1:12 am, missiles hit Jaish-e-Mohammed's headquarters in Bahawalpur, the operational heart of the group once founded by Masood Azhar. Known for planning and executing high-casualty attacks, including suicide bombings and cross-border incursions, the Bahawalpur facility was a high-priority target. The headquarters, named Markaz Subhan Allah, located along the Karachi-Torkham Highway on the outskirts of Bahawalpur at Karachi Mor in Punjab, Pakistan, is the principal training and indoctrination centre of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Spread over 15 acres, this facility functions as JeM's operational headquarters and has been directly linked to major terror attacks, including the Pulwama bombing on February 14, 2019. The perpetrators of that attack were trained at this very camp. In addition to its role in militant training, the Markaz also houses the top leadership of JeM. Residences within the complex belong to JeM founder Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother and de facto chief Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, as well as Maulana Ammar and other close family members. The site remains a hub for both strategic planning and radicalisation efforts by JeM. This strike was aimed at disrupting JeM's command-and-control setup in southern Punjab. Next, at 1:15 am, the focus shifted to Sialkot, where a major terror logistics and training camp of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) was targeted. This location, close to the LoC, served as a forward base to support infiltration attempts into Jammu and Kashmir. It also functioned as a distribution centre for weapons and supplies meant for sleeper cells operating in the Valley. The facility is run by Irfan Tanda, involved in multiple attacks in Jammu region, especially in the capital city of Jammu, particularly a series of blasts carried out on Republic Day of 1995 at the Maulana Azad Stadium of Jammu which killed 8 and injured 50. The then-Governor KV Krishna Rao narrowly escaped the attack. At 1:17 am, Indian missiles struck the Shawai Nallah camp in Muzaffarabad, an important hub for militant arms storage and operational briefing. Located deep in PoK, this camp has long been associated with LeT movements and served as a launchpad for infiltration into North Kashmir. The targeted strike reportedly neutralised several weapon caches and training barracks. LeT head Hafiz Saeed used to welcome new inductees to this camp on their arrival and there has been a resurgence of activity at the camp since 2023 and construction works have been going on to increase the capacity of this camp to accommodate more LeT cadres. Shawai Nallah camp was also used to train 26/11 perpetrator Ajmal Kasab. Just two minutes later, at 1:19 am, Markaz Ahle Hadith camp in Bhimber came under fire. This camp was primarily used for recruiting and training fresh cadres, with many of whom were funnelled directly to the LoC for border crossings. Intelligence had suggested ongoing training of fidayeen squads at the site, making it a high-value target. By 1:22 am, the Indian military struck Chak Amru, a relatively smaller but strategically vital camp used for final tactical briefings ahead of infiltration. Often used to house terrorists for a few days before movement across the border, the camp's destruction has reportedly interrupted multiple infiltration modules. At 1:25 am, a terror camp in Gulpur was hit. This facility functioned as a storage and training centre for both LeT and JeM operatives, especially for operatives trained in IED handling and sabotage. It also served as a resting point for militants before deployment closer to the LoC. Finally, at 1:28 am, a second round of strikes hit a secondary LeT camp within Muridke. This auxiliary camp, though less prominent than the headquarters, served a crucial role in LeT's auxiliary operations, including communications and logistics. Other strategic strikes were also carried out against key facilities such as the Sarjal/Tehra Kalan site in Punjab (used by JeM), the Maskar Rahil Shahid camp in PoK (linked to Hizbul Mujahideen), and the Syedna Bilal Markaz in Muzaffarabad (another JeM hub). Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : ajmal kasab Operation Sindoor Osama bin Laden Pahalgam attack Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 07, 2025, 21:01 IST News india India's 24-Minute Blitzkrieg Targeted Camps Osama Bin Laden Built, Trained Ajmal Kasab
India Gazette
07-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Drone attacks destroyed administrative office of Mosque", say locals in Pakistan's Muridke after Operation Sindoor
Muridke [Pakistan], May 7 (ANI): Drone attacks were reported from Pakistan Punjab's Muridke as India conducted Operation Sindoor across several terror targets in Pakistan. Locals told media that the drone attacks destroyed the administrative area of a mosque, along with its roof. According to a report filed by Reuters, a resident of Muridke described the situation at the location of the strike, 'It was 12:45 in night and we were sleeping. First a drone came, then three more. The drone attack destroyed the administrative office and the roof of the mosque. One officer was sitting on the roof, he was killed'. Another local said, 'Fear spread among the people, people went out into the fields, into open spaces, this is how the night passed in fear.' Markaz Taiba the 'alma mater' and the most important training centre of LeT is located in Nangal Sahdan, Muridke. The complex holds arms and physical trainings facility, as well as dawa'h and radicalisation for terror entities both from within Pakistan and abroad. All the preparators of 26/11 Mumbai attack including Ajmal Kasab were imparted 'Daura-e-Ribbat' (intelligence training) at this facility. David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the prime conspirators of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, had visited Muridke on instructions of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. Meanwile, in New Delhi, while briefing the media on Wednesday about Operation Sindoor, Col Sofiya Qureshi presented the videos of destruction of terror camps, including from Muridke where David Headley and Ajmal Kasab, perpetrators of 2008 Mumbai attacks received training. Other than Muridke, Sarjal camp in Sialkot, Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala and Markaz Abbas, Kotli and Mehmoona Joya camp, Sialkot were targeted in the strikes conducted by the Indian Army, Col Qureshi informed. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that it was essential to bring the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack to justice. 'Pakistan has been known to willfully mislead the world and international forums... The recent attack in Pahalgam has understandably generated deep anger in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India. Following the attacks, the government of India naturally responded with a set of initial measures relating to our engagement with Pakistan... It was deemed essential that the perpetrators and planners of the 22nd April attack be brought to justice. Despite a fortnight having passed, there has been no demonstrable step from Pakistan to take action against terrorists' infrastructure in on its territory or territory under its control. Instead, all it has indulged in are denials and allegations,' the foreign secretary said. Col Sofiya Qureshi shared the details of the Operation and said, 'Operation Sindoor was launched to give justice to victims of Pahalgam terrorist attack. Nine terrorist camps were targeted and completely destroyed.' Indian Armed Forces successfully struck nine terror targets, four in Pakistan, including Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Sialkot, and five in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), using special precision munitions in a coordinated operation, sources told Ministry of Defence said the action was in direct response to the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people and injured several others. The operation was jointly carried out by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, with the mobilisation of assets and troops. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was constantly monitoring Operation Sindoor throughout the night. The Indian forces selected the locations to target top Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leaders involved in sponsoring terrorist activities in India. (ANI)
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First Post
07-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Osama bin Laden-funded Markaz Taiba, which trained Ajmal Kasab, destroyed in Operation Sindoor
In this screenshot from @MEAIndia via Youtube on May 7, 2025, a map showing the terrorist camps struck as part of 'Operation Sindoor' in Pakistan and PoK, being displayed during a press conference, in New Delhi. PTI The Indian armed forces executed Operation Sindoor, a high-precision, 25-minute military offensive targeting nine terrorist facilities across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours on Wednesday. Among these targets was Markaz Taiba, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) training compound in Muridke, Punjab, – a site infamous for its direct link to some of the worst terror attacks on Indian soil, including the 26/11 Mumbai carnage. The operation came in response to the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, including several Nepali nationals. Intelligence traced the origins of the attack to LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) factions operating from across the border. What followed was a coordinated assault by India's army, navy and air force showcasing unprecedented synergy and firepower. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Fall of Markaz Taiba Among the key targets destroyed was Markaz Taiba, often described as the ideological and operational nerve centre of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Located in Nangal Sahdan, Muridke, this complex had for years operated with impunity producing jihadists under the guise of religious education. Founded in 2000, Markaz Taiba enrolled around 1,000 students each year in a range of courses blending religious indoctrination with paramilitary training. From firearms and explosives handling to psychological conditioning, the centre functioned as a terror boot camp. It held advanced facilities for arms training, radicalisation and dawa'h (preaching), all sheltered under the legitimising veneer of a madrasa. Crucially, it was here that Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving attacker of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, was trained in 'Daura-e-Ribbat', an intelligence and operational training programme. The Markaz has also hosted key figures like David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Rana, who helped orchestrate the 26/11 attacks. They visited the site under instructions from LeT's military chief Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi with logistical assistance from Abdul Rehman Sayed @ Pasha and others. The facility was also partly funded by Osama bin Laden, who reportedly donated Rs 10 million to build a mosque and guest house within the complex. The financial link between Al Qaeda's founding leader and LeT only demonstrated the global jihadist nexus converging at Muridke. Strategic, symbolic and psychological victory The obliteration of Markaz Taiba is more than just a tactical win. It is a symbolic dismantling of a terror ideology that has haunted India for over two decades. As a hub that churned out thousands of radicalised individuals annually, its destruction sends a powerful message not only to terror outfits but also to their sponsors and sympathisers in the Pakistani establishment. The Indian government, through Operation Sindoor, has made it clear that state-sponsored terrorism will not go unanswered. With Rafale jets deploying SCALP missiles and AASM Hammer bombs, the strike was both technologically superior and surgically executed. Pakistan's denial and diplomatic backlash Predictably, Pakistan downplayed the nature of the sites hit, claiming that 26 civilians, including women and children, were killed. It labelled the action an 'act of war' and resorted to cross-border shelling. The international reaction was swift. The United Nations called for restraint, while the US and China urged dialogue to prevent escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Airlines began rerouting flights signalling the region's volatility and the global implications of unchecked terrorism. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A turning point Operation Sindoor signifies a turning point in India's counterterrorism doctrine. It marks a shift from reactive diplomacy to proactive precision. The destruction of Markaz Taiba stands as a testament to India's resolve in uprooting the roots of terror even across hostile borders. Beyond military success, the operation opens new geopolitical dialogues on the rules of engagement, sovereignty and accountability. It also places Pakistan's duplicity under international scrutiny — especially its support for LeT despite repeated denials and global proscription of the group. While the destruction of Markaz Taiba is a critical milestone, it is unlikely to spell the end of Pakistan-based terror altogether. However, the loss of its most iconic facility is a crushing blow to LeT's logistical and recruitment capabilities. The psychological impact on operatives, sympathisers and backers cannot be overstated. For India, the elimination of the site where Ajmal Kasab and others were trained is a form of delayed justice. For the world, it's a stark reminder that no haven for terrorism should ever feel secure again.
