New Delhi

In launching Operation Sindoor, the Indian armed forces had precise targets – arms training and indoctrination facilities and launching pads located inside the province of Punjab and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, mainly catering to the terrorist organizations Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen.

While the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, in which 175 persons were killed by Pakistani terrorists, was executed by LeT, the JeM was involved in the Pulwama attack. 44 CRPF officials were killed in the fidayeen attack in Kashmir in February 2014.

Both organizations are UN-proscribed groups and banned by several countries.

Markaz Taiba, Muridke

Markaz Taiba, on the outskirts of Lahore is the oldest and the largest arms training and indoctrination centres in Pakistan. It was set up in 2000 at Nangal Sahdan, Muridke, Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan.

Its 82-acre campus, visited by some Indian and foreign journalists, comprises a Madrassa, market, residential area, sports facility, a fish farm, and agricultural tracts. Its Sufa Academy caters to religious indoctrination for men and women cadres at separate centers.

According to agencies, this Markaz serves as a mushrooming ground for the radicalization of students to motivate them to join armed jihad and can be compared to a terror factory. It has a training lodging facility for at least 1000 students.

Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden had donated Rs 10 million for the center in 2000. It works in close association with Pakistan’s ISI as all the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, including Ajmal Kasab, who was hanged after a trial, were imparted ‘Daura-e-Ribbat’ (intelligence training) at this facility.

David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the prime conspirators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, had visited Muridke and met its leaders including Lakhvi.

Hafiz Saeed, the chief of founder of Dawah Markaz at Muridkey and Lashkar-e-tribal, wanted by India in the 26/11 case along with Zaki Ur Rehman Lakhvi, has his residence in this facility. They regularly visit to supervise the radicalization activities being conducted from this Markaz.

Despite the global ban on LeT, the Muridkey facility remains functional. Besides organizing religious events like Itikaf and Tarawwih prayers, political leaders visit the place, and preachers and scholars give a call for jihad (read attacks against India).

Map of terrorist factories, launch pads targeted by the Indian forces:

The funeral prayer of Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki, deputy chief of LeT, was offered on December 27, 2024, at the Markaz. The funeral prayers were led by Hafiz Talha Saeed, son of Hafiz Saeed.

Markaz Subhan Allah:

The 15-acre campus is the second largest terror sanctuary in Pakistan, founded and managed by the UN-proscribed terrorist Maulana Azhar Masood and his family in Bahawalpur, Punjab. Located close to the border in Rajasthan, the Markaz was set up in 2015 with financial help from the government in Punjab and Islamabad and funds raised from overseas Pakistanis from the Gulf countries, the UK, and some African countries.

Maulana Azhar Masood was released from an Indian prison in exchange for passengers of the Indian airplane hijacked to Kandahar in 1999.

The center is used for housing at least 600 terror recruits who also receive training in arms and indoctrination, and for planning terror attacks. The 2014 Pulwama attack was planned there, and its perpetrators were also trained at the Markaz.

Markaz Subhan Allah has a palatial residence for Maulana Masood Azhar and his family. Maulana is in the ‘protective custody” of the Pakistan government. The families of Masood Azhar, Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, the de facto head of the JeM, and others also live in the mini-city.

It has facilities like a Gymnasium and a swimming pool, for recreation and training.

The Markaz Subhan Allah was built with the help of the governments of Punjab and Pakistan. Funds raised from some Gulf and African countries and the UK had gone into building and maintaining it.

Azhar Masood appeared at the Markaz after two years on November 30 when he addressed JeM cadres. His younger brother Maulana Talha Saif, and son Mohd. Abdullah Bin Masood was also present on the occasion.

Fidayeen or suicide bombers, including close relatives of JeM Chief Maulana Masood Azhar, such as his nephews Talha Rasheed, Usman, Umar, and Mohammad Ismail @ Lambu were indoctrinated at this facility and sent to Balakot for arms training.

JeM was ostensibly banned by Pakistan in January 2002 under international pressure after the group carried out a terror attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001.

The other targets:

Sarjal-Tehra Kalan facility, Shakargarh

Located in the district Narowal, Punjab, is the main launching site of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) for infiltration of terrorists into J&K. This facility is located inside the premises of a Primary Health Center in Tehra Kalan Village to conceal its real purpose. The terror backers, Pak ISI, have facilitated the setting up of such launch facilities along the border and the Line of Control in the government buildings to conceal terror infrastructure.

Mehmoona Joya facility of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM)

It’s a launch pad of Hizbul Mujahideen located near Kotli Bhutta Govt. Hospital in Head Marala area of Sialkot District of Punjab, Pakistan. This facility is used for infiltration of HM cadres into Jammu region of J&K. HM cadres are also given training for terrorist operations and handling of weapons by the senior commanders at this facility.

Markaz Ahle Hadith Barnala

It’s the launch pad of Lashkar-e-Taiba, located in the Bhimber District of the PoJK. This place is used for infiltration of LeT terrorists and pushing of arms/ammunition into Poonch– Rajouri-Reasi sector. The center can accommodate 100 -150 cadres, and around 40- 50 cadres are usually present at this Markaz, supervising terror activities.

Markaz Abbas Jaish-e-Mohammad

 Markaz Saidna Hazrat Abbas Bin Abdul Mutalib (Markaz Abbas) of JeM is located at Mohalla Roli Dhara Bypass Road, Kotli, PoJK. Interestingly, it is located in close vicinity of the Kotli Military Camp. This building can accommodate around 100 - 125 JeM cadres, and 40 – 50 JeM cadres are always present within the premises of this Markaz at any point of time.

Maskar Raheel Shahid

Maskar Rahil Shahid is one of the oldest facilities of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) in Kotli, POJK. It is a secluded facility and accessible only via a kachcha track. · The camp is located in a hilly area and comprises barracks, four rooms being used for keeping arms & ammunition, an office, and for residential purposes for terrorists. A new facility for the accommodation of cadres and instructors has been constructed on this campus. A specially designated electricity line is provided to this camp in this otherwise secluded area. This camp is located in heavy forest cover.

Shawai Nallah Camp

 This is the Lashkar-e-Taiba launch-pad cum camp located in Muzaffarabad, PoJK. It’s one of the most important camps of LeT and is used for the recruitment, registration, and training of LeT cadres. This camp has been functional since the early 2000s. This camp is 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.

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

Syedna Bilal Markaz Jaish-e-Mohammad

Located in Muzaffarabad, the Syedna Bilal Masjid is the main center of JeM in PoJK, located opposite the Red Fort, Muzaffarabad. JeM’s Office cum Transit Camp is located on the first floor adjacent to the building of Syedna Bilal Masjid.

The Mosque complex consists of a three-storey building wherein the ‘Hijama Centre’ (pressure cupping medical therapy) is located on the ground floor. This facility is spread over 08-10 Kanals. This facility has family quarters, an office building, and the office of Al-Rehmat Trust, the charity wing of JeM. This facility is used as a transit camp for JeM terrorists before they launch into J&K.

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At any point in time, 50-100 cadres reside in this facility. Additionally, training by Pakistani Special Forces, SSG, is imparted here, as indicated from the photographs retrieved from the phones of killed JeM terrorists. JeM operational commander and JeM head of PoJK, Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri, is in charge of the facility. Abdullah Jehadi@, Abdullah Kashmiri, and Aashiq Nengroo (Indian Fugitive) also operate from this center.