Lashkar, Jaish camps and offices possible targets for Indian strikes

As India considers a range of punitive military measures against Pakistan following the Lashkar-e-Toiba terror attack on tourists at Pahalgam on April 22, there is a possibility of the group’s camps and offices such as its headquarters at Muridke and Jaish e Mohammad establishments at Bahawalpur along with terror launch pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir being targeted by precision air strikes.

The use of air power to deliver impactful strikes through long range air-to-ground missiles or guided deep penetration bombs might be most feasible means of delivering a hard-hitting response, feel sources in the strategic community. The view that top Lashkar leaders may no longer be found at Muridke – some 40 km from Lahore – has been considered but it is felt a strike will nonetheless send an message given the symbolic importance of the facility and its connection with Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed.

The Muridke complex, run by the “religious” wing of the Lashkar, was taken over by the Punjab government in Pakistan following international pressure after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. But its functioning remains largely unaltered. The 200-acre complex has many facilities and the challenge lies in ensuring those catering to students or medical needs are not struck. Nonetheless, despite a veneer of “charitable” activities, the complex is closely associated with LeT and run by its senior leaders.

The Jaish has large and small complexes in the Bahawalpur area of Pakistan’s Punjab that serve as indoctrination and training facilities for terrorists who are launched into Jammu and Kashmir and other such “jihadi” theatres. Some of these can also be likely targets of Indian retaliatory strikes.

The argument that Lashkar terrorists might have vacated the so-called hot spots applies to terror launch pads in PoK too. The camps were caught napping in 2016 surgical strikes following the attack on the Indian Army camp at Uri, but might be currently deactivated or drawn down. Yet, here too it is felt it will be demonstrative to hit them as well as other such camps that are further within PoK and at a distance from the Line of Control.

Both Lashkar and Jaish are joined at the hip to the Pakistan Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Often enough their camps training jihadis are close to army centres or encampments. There is close liasoning between mid and senior level Pakistan Army and ISI officials with both Lashkar and Jaish operatives. There is little doubt, feel informed sources, that an operation like the segregated killing of non-Muslim tourists at Pahalgam would have happened with the Pakistan Army’s clearance and oversight.

The targeting of camps run by jihadi outfits, possibly some military centres too, has been on the table since the attack at the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam. It is felt there will be a “first order” strikes and depending on Pakistan’s response, more targets could be selected. India’s military actions carry the strong possibility of escalation but the Modi government is preparing for such a scenario with heightened deployment of Naval, Air Force and Army assets.

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