Pak terror groups shift base

Pakistan-sponsored terror groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) have begun relocating to that country’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province after Indian forces bombed nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and killed at least 100 terrorists in the early hours of May 7 when Operation Sindoor was launched, people familiar with the development said on Friday citing intelligence inputs.

- Rahul Singh

The calculated move reflects a significant tactical adaptation by these groups that now view PoK as vulnerable to Indian precision strikes, the people said, adding that KPK offers greater depth due to its geography, proximity to the Afghan frontier, and existing jihadi safe havens dating back to the ‘Afghan war.

On May 7, the Indian Air Force struck two terror sites at Markaz Subhanallah in Bahawalpur and Markaz Taiba near Muridke, while the army hit targets at seven places including Mehmoona Joya in Sialkot, Sawai Nala and Syed Na Bilal in Muzaffarabad, Gulpur and Abbas in Kotli, Barnala in Bhimber, and Sarjal.