Jaish HQ Closed on Google Maps After India’s Operation Sindoor Strikes
K N Mishra
07/Jun/2025

What’s Covered Under the Article
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India targets 9 terror camps in Pakistan and PoK after the Pahalgam attack under Operation Sindoor, including JeM HQ in Bahawalpur.
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Jaish headquarters in Bahawalpur marked as "permanently closed" on Google Maps after being structurally damaged in the Indian strikes.
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Satellite images confirm significant damage; JeM’s key training center reportedly vacated before the strike, but 13 including Azhar’s kin killed.
In a bold military operation conducted in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, India launched precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Among the most high-profile targets was the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) headquarters located in Bahawalpur, Punjab province of Pakistan, now labelled as “permanently closed” on Google Maps.
This update reflects a significant operational success for India in counter-terror efforts and has attracted global attention amid rising tensions in the subcontinent.
The Strike That Shook Bahawalpur
The JeM headquarters, operating under the front of "Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah", was considered the nerve centre of JeM’s ideological and militant training infrastructure. Located just 100 km from the Indian border, this site was strategically vital, often reported as the location where cadres were radicalised and trained for cross-border terrorism.
On April 22, 2025, a barbaric terror attack in Pahalgam resulted in the death of 26 civilians, triggering a strong national and international outcry. In response, India meticulously planned and executed Operation Sindoor—a coordinated military campaign designed to eliminate high-value terror infrastructure.
According to official sources, Indian intelligence confirmed that the Bahawalpur facility was a key training ground and also housed the family of JeM founder Masood Azhar. Although reports suggest that students had been evacuated days prior to the anticipated strike, 13 people were killed, 10 of whom were Azhar’s relatives, in the targeted operation.
Google Maps Marks Jaish HQ 'Permanently Closed'
Following the attack, users began noticing that the JeM headquarters on Google Maps was marked as “Permanently Closed.” This unusual development raised questions on how such updates are made and whether it reflects a broader acknowledgment of the strike’s success.
Google Maps, while not confirming individual cases, states that permanent closures are determined based on:
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User-submitted reports of closures,
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Updates from business or site owners,
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Automated detection of changes in traffic, including footfall and online engagement,
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Satellite imagery and Street View updates,
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Input from local guides or third-party data partners.
In high-impact scenarios such as military conflicts, significant physical destruction visible via satellite images may also contribute to the closure label being applied.
Strategic Impact of Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor was not a symbolic gesture—it was a calibrated strike on infrastructure directly contributing to terrorism on Indian soil. The targets included:
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JeM training and radicalisation camps,
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Weapon storage sites,
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Launch pads near the Line of Control (LoC),
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Command centres run by militant groups with Pakistan’s covert support.
All targets were confirmed using real-time satellite intelligence, surveillance drones, and covert operatives on ground in PoK.
Military analysts indicate that India used advanced precision-guided munitions, likely including SPICE 2000 bombs and long-range glide bombs, launched from Mirage 2000 and Sukhoi Su-30 MKI jets.
International Reaction and Denial from Pakistan
While India confirmed the strikes and the intended targets, Pakistan's government denied that any such facilities were operational or that civilian casualties occurred. This predictable rebuttal was countered by independent satellite imagery and Reuters' on-ground reports, which confirmed destruction and evacuation activities at the Bahawalpur site.
Further, international defence analysts, including those from the UK and Israel, verified the structural changes at the JeM HQ through imagery analysis, backing India’s narrative.
The strike also intensified diplomatic friction between the two nations, with India reiterating its zero-tolerance stance on cross-border terrorism and the need for global unity against terror safe havens.
Masood Azhar's Family Targeted
Perhaps the most explosive revelation from this operation is that Masood Azhar's own family members were among the deceased. Intelligence agencies revealed that Azhar's relatives were actively involved in managing the training schedules, logistics, and indoctrination of fresh recruits.
This further strengthens India’s claim that JeM, despite being "banned" in Pakistan, continues to operate openly and with impunity, sometimes under religious disguises or social welfare guises like the Subhan Allah mosque.
Azhar himself, reportedly unwell and reclusive, was not present at the site during the strike, and his current location remains unknown. However, there are unconfirmed reports suggesting that his movements have been heavily restricted since the strike.
Geopolitical Ramifications
The success of Operation Sindoor and the marking of Bahawalpur HQ as “Permanently Closed” could shift the balance in India’s ongoing counter-terror strategy in several ways:
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Exposing Pakistan’s double game on terrorism,
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Disrupting Jaish's recruitment and training pipelines,
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Sending a strong message to terror financiers and sympathisers, both in and outside Pakistan,
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Elevating India’s standing in the global counter-terror alliance,
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Strengthening India’s domestic morale and reasserting national resolve against terrorism.
Conclusion: End of JeM’s Stronghold?
The closure of Jaish-e-Mohammed’s Bahawalpur HQ—not just in physical terms but also symbolically through platforms like Google Maps—signifies a major setback for one of South Asia’s most dreaded terror outfits. While JeM may try to regroup or relocate, India’s Operation Sindoor has decisively disrupted its core base, both logistically and psychologically.
The impact of this operation goes beyond just the destruction of structures. It is about reclaiming strategic deterrence, reaffirming commitment to national security, and holding state-backed terrorism accountable on the global stage.
India has sent a clear message: There will be consequences for terrorism, and no sanctuary is safe when innocent lives are taken.
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