India prioritises peace, but any threat to sovereignty will be met with force: Rajnath Singh
Srinagar, May 15 (KINS): In a powerful address to Indian Army personnel at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has redefined India’s approach to terrorism, asserting that “any attack on Indian soil will now be treated as an act of war.”
During his first visit to the Valley after the recent Pahalgam terror attack, Singh saluted the courage of the soldiers and civilians who bore the brunt of terrorism, reaffirming the government’s unwavering resolve to uproot terror from its roots. “India has always prioritised peace, but when our sovereignty is threatened, retaliation is inevitable,” Singh said.
He singled out Operation Sindoor as the biggest anti-terror operation in India’s history, calling it a landmark moment that demonstrated India’s ability and will to strike deep into enemy territory. “This was not just defence—it was decisive action. Terrorists killed innocents based on their religion; we eliminated them based on their crimes. It was our dharma to destroy them,” he stated.
Rajnath Singh added that the operation sent a clear warning to Pakistan-based terror groups and their handlers—they are no longer safe anywhere. “Our forces struck with precision. Let the enemy count their losses,” he declared.
Touching on Pakistan’s repeated nuclear threats, Singh raised concerns before the global community, questioning whether nuclear weapons are safe in the hands of a country that issues threats irresponsibly. “Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal must come under international supervision—specifically the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” he urged.
He reminded the audience that 21 years ago, Pakistan assured then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that terrorism would not be exported from its soil. “That promise has been nothing but deception,” Singh said, calling on Islamabad to dismantle terror infrastructure and end its use of proxy warfare.
Contrasting the economic trajectories of the two neighbours, Singh noted that “Pakistan is pleading for IMF loans, while India is contributing to the IMF to support others.”
He emphasized that “no unwarranted action must come from across the border,” reaffirming the ceasefire understanding. Singh reiterated Prime Minister Modi’s stance: “Talks and terrorism cannot go together. If there are talks, they will only be about terrorism—and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.”
The Defence Minister paid tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam attack and the soldiers who laid down their lives during Operation Sindoor. He also lauded the troops who struck and demolished Pakistani posts along the border.
“I bring a message from every Indian: We are proud of our Armed Forces,” Singh said. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernising the military, listing recent advances in indigenous defence manufacturing—from modern rifles and drones to missile shields and connectivity infrastructure along the LoC and LAC.
“The government stands shoulder-to-shoulder with every soldier, in every terrain, in every battle,” Singh said, concluding with confidence that India will soon eliminate terrorism from the region.
The event was attended by Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, and other senior Army officials.(KINS)
