Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated on Thursday, May 16, that terrorists will not be let off, no matter where they are concealed. “We will locate every terrorist hideout and rip the enemy’s chest apart. We are willing to go to any extent in the fight against terrorism,” Rajnath Singh stated.
Rajnath Singh stated that ‘Operation Sindoor’ marks the biggest response to terrorism and that terrorists have targeted innocents based on ‘dharma’, while actions against them are based on their ‘karma’.
On his initial visit to Jammu and Kashmir after Operation Sindoor, Singh spoke to soldiers and emphasized that the operation had delivered a powerful message to terror groups and their supporters in Pakistan: they are no longer out of reach.
“Today, from the soil of Srinagar, I want to raise a question before the entire world: Are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such an irresponsible and rogue nation? I believe that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should be placed under the supervision of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency),” Singh said while addressing the soldiers.
ALSO READ: Rajnath: Can Pakistan Be Trusted with Nukes?
Defence Minister assessed Overall Security and Combat Readiness
Rajnath’s visit aims to assess the general security and the operational preparedness of the armed forces in the union territory, as reported by PTI.
During his visit, Singh was joined by Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. He examined Pakistani shells that fell in Jammu and Kashmir, and this wreckage was displayed at the Badami Bagh Cantonment, ANI reported.
Rajnath Singh praised Indian Army
He stated that the whole country takes pride in what happened during Operation Sindoor. “Along with my role as Defence Minister, I am here to convey my thanks to you as an Indian citizen,” Singh stated, according to ANI.
He stated that he admires the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the way they demonstrated their anger against Pakistan and terrorists following the Pahalgam attack. “I am present to experience the energy that vanquished the foes. The way you obliterated Pakistani chowkis and bunkers along the border, I believe the enemy will always remember it,” he mentioned, ANI reported.
ALSO READ: Supreme Court Denounces Minister Shah Over Col Qureshi Remarks
Rajnath’s comments followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement to the nation just days prior, where he asserted that India would not accept Pakistan’s “nuclear blackmail” any longer.
On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, aiming at nine “terrorist infrastructures” located in Pakistan. Following the operation, tensions quickly intensified between the two nuclear-capable neighbors, pushing the subcontinent to the edge of war.