Srinagar: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that India has always prioritised peace and never supported war. However, when its sovereignty is attacked, it is necessary to respond, he said. “If Pakistan continues to support terrorism, it will pay a heavier price,” he said.
Any talks with Pakistan, he said, will only be on terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The defence minister, who is here on his first visit to Kashmir after Operation Sindoor, said India will soon eradicate terrorism from the region with the help of the armed forces.
Rajnath Singh termed Operation Sindoor as the biggest action taken by India against terrorism in history, and a testament to the nation’s commitment to go to any extent to eliminate the menace. “Operation Sindoor was a commitment demonstrated by India of not just carrying out defence, but taking bold decisions whenever needed. It was a dream of every soldier that we will reach every terrorist hideout and destroy them. Terrorists killed Indians based on their religion, we killed them for their deeds. It was our dharma to eliminate them. Our forces gave the right direction to their anger and took revenge for Pahalgam with great courage & discretion,” he said while interacting with soldiers at Badamibagh here.
He said that Operation Sindoor has sent a loud and clear message to the terrorist organisations hiding in Pakistan and their masters that they are not safe anywhere. “Our forces have shown to the world that their aim is precise & pin-point and the task of counting is left to the enemies,” he said.
Rajnath Singh added that India’s unwavering resolve against terrorism can be gauged from the fact that it was not deterred by Pakistan’s nuclear blackmail, pointing out that the world has witnessed how irresponsibly Islamabad has issued nuclear threats to New Delhi several times. “I raise this question before the world: Are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such an irresponsible and rogue nation? Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should be taken under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” he said.
Singh stated that through the Pahalgam incident, an attempt was made to break the social unity of India, and the Armed Forces responded to the terror attack by hitting the heart of the adversary. He recalled Pakistan’s declaration about 21 years ago in front of the then Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee that terrorism will no longer be exported from its land. Raksha Mantri said Pakistan has been deceiving India, and it must stop sheltering anti-India and terrorist organisations & not allow its land to be used against India, he said.
The Minster said that Pakistan has reached a state where it has sought loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while India falls in the category of those countries which provide funds to IMF so that they can help poor countries.
He reasserted that no unwarranted action should be taken from across the border, which is the base of the understanding reached between the two countries. He reiterated Prime Minister Modi’s views that terrorism & talks cannot go together, and if talks are held, it will only be on terrorism and PoK.
During his visit, the defence minister paid homage to the civilians killed in the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, and the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for the country following Operation Sindoor.
He also commended the courage of the injured soldiers and wished for their speedy recovery.
Expressing gratitude to the soldiers for the cross-border strikes, Singh said, “I come here today with a message from the people of India — ‘we are proud of our forces’.”
He also reiterated the government’s commitment to continue equipping the forces with advanced weapons, platforms and modern infrastructure.
“Our government has ensured that our forces are prepared for every situation. Many new-generation equipment, such as modern rifles, missile defence shields and drones, are being rapidly manufactured in India. “Connectivity has been ensured along the LoC (Line of Control) and the LAC (Line of Actual Control) like never before. The government is trying to serve the soldiers for the devotion and readiness with which they serve the country,” Singh said.
India prioritises peace but response necessary if sovereignty attacked: Rajnath
