In the early hours of Wednesday, the Indian Armed Forces launched a precise strike on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), in response to the brutal Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, where 26 civilians mostly tourists were killed.

One of the key targets in this strike was the Muridke Markaz, located near Lahore, Pakistan. This site wasn’t chosen randomly, it holds critical importance in Pakistan’s terror infrastructure. Muridke is the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the group responsible for multiple terror attacks in India, including the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

Why Muridke was targeted in Operation Sindoor

The Markaz complex, set up in 2000, is more than just a religious center. It includes madrasas, training camps, residential facilities, and radical preaching centers, all reportedly used to recruit, train, and indoctrinate terrorists. Its strategic location just 25–30 km from the Attari-Wagah border and well-connected by highway,makes it easy to mobilize terror operatives at short notice.

Around 1,000 students enroll here every year, many of whom are influenced to join terror activities. Intelligence reports say this site regularly produces terror operatives for LeT. Notably, Osama Bin Laden had even funded Rs 10 million for building a mosque and guesthouse inside the complex.

The Markaz also has direct links to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the terrorists involved, including Ajmal Kasab, received intelligence training here. David Headley and Tahawwur Rana, both key conspirators of 26/11, had visited Muridke on the orders of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, a top LeT commander.This made Muridke one of the most high-value and symbolic targets in Operation Sindoor.

Located on a major highway just a few kilometres from Lahore, the Muridke Markaz is in a strategic position. Its location allows quick mobilisation of terror operatives, making it a high-risk zone and a key target for elimination. Originally, the Markaz was set up in the 1980s to support the Afghan jihad against Soviet forces. But after the Soviets left, it shifted its focus to anti-India operations.

Following global pressure after the 9/11 attacks, Pakistan officially bannedLashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). However, instead of shutting down, the Markaz was rebranded as a seminary named Jamaat-ud-Dawa, allowing it to continue operating under a different name, as reported by India Today.

LeT was founded by Hafiz Saeed, Zafar Iqbal, and Abdullah Azzam. Its parent organisation, Markaz-ud-Dawa-wal-Irshad (MDI), was formed in 1987 as a Sunni missionary group aimed at spreading Salafism, an extreme and rigid interpretation of Islam.This deep-rooted network, ideology, and strategic location made the Muridke Markaz a critical target during Operation Sindoor.

Due to its history, significance, and direct links to anti-India operations, Muridke was identified as a high-priority target under Operation Sindoor. The Indian Armed Forces carried out the strike with precision, avoiding civilian or military Pakistani targets, as confirmed by the Ministry of Defence.This strike, along with eight others, delivered a strong and symbolic response to cross-border terrorism.