Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday described ‘Operation Sindoor’ as the most significant and decisive counter-terrorism response in India’s history. Speaking to soldiers at the Badami Bagh cantonment in Srinagar, he declared that terrorists who killed innocents based on religion (‘dharam’) had been met with retribution based on their deeds (‘karam’).
His remarks come in the backdrop of India’s recent large-scale military operation against terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strikes were launched in retaliation to the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of multiple civilians and soldiers.
“This is not just a military operation—it is a message. I have come here not as a Defence Minister, but as a postman carrying the gratitude of 140 crore Indians for your bravery and sacrifice,” Singh told the troops. He was accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande, and senior defence and administrative officials.
India’s Redefined Counter-Terror Doctrine
The Defence Minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for redefining India’s approach to terrorism. “There will be a befitting response to any violation from across the border. Talks and terror cannot go hand-in-hand. Dialogue with Pakistan, if at all, will only be about Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and terrorism,” he asserted.
‘Operation Sindoor’ marks a strategic shift in India’s security posture, emphasizing pre-emptive and punitive action against cross-border terrorism. Military officials described the operation as multi-phased and intelligence-led, targeting several key terror launchpads with precision strikes.
Ongoing Counter-Terrorism Efforts in South Kashmir
In a related development, three terrorists affiliated with the proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit were gunned down by security forces during an encounter in the Nadar Lorgam area of Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. According to a senior police official, the gunfight broke out early Thursday and resulted in the neutralization of the militants. “Identification is underway, and further details will be provided soon,” the official stated.The encounter reflects the ongoing high-alert and counter-insurgency operations being conducted across the Kashmir Valley in the wake of the April 22 attack.
Rajnath Singh’s visit underscores the Centre’s firm stance on national security and counter-terrorism. With ‘Operation Sindoor’ hailed as a landmark in India’s defence strategy, the message from Srinagar is clear: India will not tolerate terror, and it will respond with force when provoked.
