Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday lauded the Indian armed forces for the successful execution of Operation Sindoor, which targeted and destroyed nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Describing the strikes as carried out with “unimaginable precision,” Singh commended the forces for their courage and restraint.
Speaking at the National Quality Conclave, Singh revealed that a significant number of terrorists were eliminated in the operation, launched in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians.
“Operation Sindoor was successfully executed because our formidable and professionally-trained Armed Forces were equipped with high-quality equipment,” Singh said.
He emphasised the pinpoint accuracy of the strikes and the effort to avoid civilian casualties:
“The precision with which Operation Sindoor was executed is unimaginable and highly commendable. Nine terrorist camps were destroyed, a large number of terrorists were killed, and the operation was conducted with minimal collateral damage and no harm to innocents.”
Singh also delivered a stern warning to India’s adversaries, underscoring the country’s commitment to peace but readiness to respond firmly to provocation:
“We have always acted as a responsible nation and preferred dialogue to resolve issues. But our patience should not be mistaken for weakness. If provoked, we are fully prepared to deliver ‘quality action’ as we did yesterday. It will remain our approach going forward.”
Shifting the focus to defence industry ambitions, the minister called for a stronger domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem:
“We must build the Indian defence industry into a strong, trusted global brand. My appeal today is for all stakeholders to work towards making ‘Brand India’ the preferred choice in the global defence market. Our motto should be: Whenever in doubt, go for India.”
The military strikes, conducted early Wednesday, reportedly targeted key terror infrastructure, including facilities in Bahawalpur, a known hub of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist group.
Earlier in the day, the Defence Minister informed opposition leaders during an All-Party Meeting that over 100 terrorists had been killed in Operation Sindoor. Rajnath Singh also stated that Sindoor is an “ongoing operation,” indicating that the Indian military is responding to the escalation by Pakistan. He emphasized that the Indian government does not wish to undertake any further military action but will retaliate if enemy forces launch an attack.
Team BharatShakti
