Operation Bunyanun Marsoos

The operation’s name—meaning “a structure firmly joined together”—draws inspiration from Surah Al-Saff (61-4), which praises those who fight in Allah’s cause as a solid, fortified structure.

Bunyan Marsoos is an Arabic verse from the Quran, the holy book of Muslims.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُم بُنْيَانٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ

Translation: ‘Allah indeed loves those who fight in His Way as though they are a solid wall cemented with molten lead’ (Surah Al-Saff, verse 4)

The group took the name “Bunyanun Marsoos” from a Quranic phrase meaning “a solid-cemented structure” or “iron wall,” symbolizing unity and strength. They reportedly carried out the strikes using ballistic missiles, armed drones, and precision airstrikes.

Background

On 7 May 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, a 23-minute coordinated strike involving Rafale jets, BrahMos cruise missiles, and SkyStriker drones, targeting nine locations in Pakistani-administered Kashmir and Pakistan’s Punjab province. India stated it conducted the attack in a limited manner, targeting infrastructure linked to the terrorist groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, not Pakistani military assets. In response, Pakistan escalated cross-border fire in Kashmir and claimed to have downed five Indian aircraft, including Rafales and a drone. While India denied these losses, international media outlets reported that several Indian jets had crashed with injured pilots. Following the strikes, India accused Pakistan of launching drone and missile attacks on Indian cities, including Amritsar, and reported intercepting them using the S-400 system in its first combat use. Pakistan denied this, claiming India had mistakenly struck its own territory.

India then conducted suppression operations against Pakistani air defences around Lahore, while Pakistan reported shooting down 12 Indian drones and intercepting 25 Harop loitering munitions, with one drone landing in Rawalpindi’s cricket stadium, forcing the Pakistan Super League to shift venues to the UAE. India’s Defence Minister confirmed Operation Sindoor was ongoing. That evening, Pakistan launched strikes near Jammu, targeting the airport and university, but India claimed it intercepted all eight incoming missiles. Explosions occurred in Jammu and Jaisalmer, reportedly from hundreds of Turkish Songar drones targeting dozens of sites. India responded with drone attacks on Pakistani air defence positions, claiming to destroy at least one radar installation.

The LoC saw intensified artillery exchanges, with Pakistan targeting multiple locations and India alleging Pakistani attacks on 15 sites, which a Pakistani general dismissed as false. The situation continued to escalate, with analysts describing it as the first drone-centric conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals.

Operation Bunyanun Marsoos

Operation Bunyanun Marsoos is a large-scale military operation launched by Pakistan on May 10, 2025, in response to Indian missile strikes on Pakistani airbases. The operation targeted multiple Indian military installations, including Pathankot, Udhampur, and Adampur airbases, as well as BrahMos missile depots.

The conflict escalated after India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting alleged militant camps in Pakistan. In retaliation, Pakistan initiated Operation Bunyanun Marsoos, marking one of the most serious escalations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors since the Kargil conflict of 1999.

• On 10 May, Pakistan launched a retaliatory operation named Bunyan al-Marsus (“a wall of molten lead” from the Quran), symbolizing a spiritual and nationalistic cause.
• Pakistan claimed to have launched:
  • Cyberattacks on Indian domains, including BJP, BSF, and military networks.
  • A Fatah-II artillery rocket toward Delhi, intercepted near Sirsa Air Force Station.
  • Drone, missile, and artillery strikes at multiple Indian locations.

Cross-Border Shelling and Casualties

• Heavy artillery exchanges occurred along the LoC, especially near Sialkot and Rajouri.
• Indian-administered Kashmir’s CM reported the death of Rajouri’s commissioner, Raj Kumar Thapa, in Pakistani shelling.
• Local reports claimed 5 additional civilians killed in the same incident.
• India stated that civilian areas, including a Hindu temple in Jammu, were targeted by Pakistani drones and artillery.

Airbase Conflicts and Retaliatory Strikes

• India confirmed Pakistan mobilized troops to forward positions.
• India denied damage to its S-400 systems, BrahMos missiles, and Sirsa/Suratgarh airbases.
• India accused Pakistan of attacks on over 26 locations using drones, loitering munitions, and missiles — notably a high-speed missile attack on Punjab’s air base at 1:40 am.
• Udhampur, Bhuj, and Pathankot airbases reportedly sustained minor damage.

India’s Response Strikes

• India claimed to have destroyed or severely damaged:
  • Pakistan Air Force bases: Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan.
  • Military sites in Sukkur, Chunia.
  • Radar installation in Pasrur.
  • Sialkot aviation base.
  • Skardu, Sargodha, Jacobabad, and Bholari airbases.
• Indian forces released images of debris from a Baykar YIHA III drone, reportedly shot down over Amritsar.
• Pakistan’s state media reported Shaikh Zayed International Airport was damaged in Indian airstrikes.

Indian Counter-Strikes and Allegations

• India reportedly launched five missiles from Srinagar, targeting Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and three Pakistani Air Force bases (Nur Khan, Rafiqi, Murid).
• Pakistan claimed all missiles were intercepted, but explosions were heard across Pakistan.
• Pakistan accused India of also launching missiles and drones into Afghanistan — India denied this allegation.

Other Developments

• Explosions were heard in Srinagar (near the airport and military HQ) and Baramulla.
• Analysts (e.g., Michael Kugelman) described the situation as de facto war, though no ground troops had been deployed by either side.

Impact of Operation

During Operation Bunyanun Marsoos, Pakistan reportedly targeted over 20 Indian military sites. These included airbases, missile storage facilities, air defense systems, and military intelligence centers2. Some of the key locations hit were:

• Beas: BrahMos missile storage facility destroyed.
• Udhampur: Air defense systems and airbase heavily damaged.
• Pathankot: Military airfield struck.
• Jalandhar: Airbase targeted.
• Adampur: S-400 air defense system destroyed.
• Sirsa: Airfield hit.
• Uri: Indian Army Brigade Headquarters and supply depot struck.
• Rajouri: Military intelligence training facility destroyed.
• Srinagar: Airbase targeted, with reports of 20 Indian military casualties.
• Cyber Attacks: Pakistan reportedly disrupted 70% of India’s power grid, affecting major cities.

The operation was described as “precise and proportionate”, aimed at degrading India’s offensive capabilities while avoiding civilian targets

Pakistan launched a powerful cyberattack that crippled 70% of India’s electricity grid. The unprecedented outage plunged large parts of India into darkness, disrupting daily life and operations across numerous cities.

Sources say Pakistan carried out the cyber assault as a calculated response to previous hostilities. By targeting critical infrastructure, it aimed to make its point without shedding blood.

Gains for Pakistan

Operation Bunyanun Marsoos provided Pakistan with several strategic advantages in its conflict with India:

1. Military Superiority – Pakistan successfully targeted key Indian military installations, including airbases, missile depots, and air defense systems. The destruction of India’s S-400 air defense system and BrahMos missile storage facilities significantly weakened India’s offensive capabilities.
2. Cyber Warfare Success – Pakistan reportedly disrupted 70% of India’s power grid, causing widespread blackouts and affecting military operations. This demonstrated Pakistan’s growing cyber warfare capabilities.
3. Diplomatic Leverage – The operation forced India into a ceasefire agreement, with Pakistan securing international backing from China, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye. The United States mediated between the two nations, leading to a diplomatic resolution.
4. Economic Stability – Despite the conflict, Pakistan maintained economic stability and secured a $1 billion IMF program approval, signaling international confidence in its resilience.
5. Public Morale & National Unity – The operation was framed as a decisive counterstrike, boosting national morale and reinforcing Pakistan’s commitment to defending its sovereignty.

Ceasefire

Thirty-six countries intervened diplomatically, leading both sides to implement a ceasefire at 17:00 IST (16:30 PKT). The ceasefire was first announced by US President Donald Trump via social media before official confirmations from the Indian and Pakistani foreign ministries.

Dar said that 36 countries helped broker the truce. An Indian official told Agence France Presse that India and Pakistan directly negotiated the ceasefire, agreeing to stop firing and military action between them. United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that both nations would discuss a broad set of issues at a neutral site, adding that he and Vice President JD Vance had extensively communicated with senior officials from both sides. US President Donald Trump posted about the ceasefire on social media around late noon IST/PKT, before the Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers made their official announcements.

Despite of ceasefire suspended Indus Water Treaty remains a point of conflict between the two countries along with other issues.