Describing Operation Sindoor as the “logical next step” after India’s 2016 surgical strike and the 2019 Balakot air strike, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh firmly cautioned Pakistan on Saturday. Speaking from the Northern Command Headquarters in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said any future terror acts targeting Indian soil will bring grave repercussions for the aggressors.
While addressing soldiers on International Yoga Day, Singh emphasized that the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians lost their lives, wasn’t merely an act of terrorism — it was also an attempt to fracture India’s social and communal harmony. Operation Sindoor, India’s coordinated military response, was a clear retaliation aimed at dismantling terror networks in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir during the night of May 6–7.
“We’ve shattered Pakistan’s misguided doctrine of ‘a thousand cuts’,” Singh stated, referring to Islamabad’s long-standing low-intensity warfare policy against India. “Through Operation Sindoor, we made it clear that India is more than ready to confront and eliminate terrorism in any form.”
He asserted that Operation Sindoor was not just retaliatory, but a strategic message: “Terrorism will not go unanswered, and consequences will escalate for each act against us.” According to Singh, India halted its strikes only after Pakistan pleaded and was forced to retreat, demonstrating the effectiveness of the campaign.
Singh also honored the bravery of soldiers like Major Somnath Sharma and Brigadier Mohammad Usman, noting their sacrifices as testaments to India’s commitment to unity and integrity. “Pakistan seeks to break us from within,” he said, “but the spirit of our martyrs reinforces our resolve.”
Flanked by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Singh shifted the focus to yoga — a symbol of unity — aligning it with India’s cultural strength and national security. “Yoga means connection — with our nation, with our values, and with each other,” he explained. “True security is built not only through defense but through unity in thought and society.”
Singh encouraged the public to embrace yoga not just as a wellness tool but as a cultural force that brings people together — a practice that strengthens the very fabric of the country. He concluded by reaffirming that India’s stance on terrorism remains uncompromising and future provocations will meet with resolute and proportionate force.
