By Pravin Kumar
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a stern warning to Pakistan on Saturday, asserting that its “thousand cuts” policy of sponsoring terrorism against India will not succeed.
Addressing troops of the Army’s Northern Command in Udhampur after participating in a yoga session on International Yoga Day, Singh warned that Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, is far from over, and any future terror attacks on Indian soil will invite severe consequences.
“Operation Sindoor conveyed a clear message to Pakistan: terrorism against India will not be tolerated, and the response will escalate from bad to worse,” Singh said, flanked by Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi.
The operation, conducted on May 6-7, saw Indian forces strike terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, destroying terrorist strongholds with precision. The Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists, prompted the retaliatory action.
Singh described Operation Sindoor as a continuation of India’s firm stance against terrorism, following the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrike. “We have told Pakistan that its policy of a thousand cuts will fail. Any terror attack on Indian soil will come at a great cost,” he warned, underscoring India’s readiness to take any necessary action to combat terrorism.
The Defence Minister’s visit to Udhampur, his second to Jammu and Kashmir since Operation Sindoor, included a security review meeting with top Army officials. His remarks come weeks after India and Pakistan agreed on May 15 to halt military actions against each other, though Singh’s statement signals India’s unwavering resolve to counter terrorism.
General Dwivedi, who joined the yoga session, reiterated the Army’s commitment to national security. The Northern Command remains on high alert to ensure stability in the region.
Singh’s address to the troops highlighted India’s proactive defence strategy and its determination to safeguard its sovereignty against external threats.
