New Delhi, July 28:
As Defence Minister Rajnath Singh started the debate in Lok Sabha today on Pahalgam attack and India’s response, he posed some tough questions to the opposition while asserting that the armed force are ever vigilant to defend India’s borders.
Singh said that Operation Sindoor was “paused” as the armed forces had achieved the desired politico-military objectives and asserted that there was “no pressure” to end it.
If Pakistan indulges in fresh misadventure, it will resume again, the Minister said in his opening remarks on the special debate on Pahalgam terror strikes and Operation Sindoor in the lower house.
“Opposition is asking how many of our aircraft were shot down, they never asked how many enemy aircraft came down,” Singh said as he came down heavily on the opposition for questioning the government. “In any exam, results matter, not whether pencil was broken during exam or pen lost; ultimately, results matter,” Singh said.
Operation Sindoor, he said, was an effective and well-coordinated strike against nine terror sites in PoK and Pakistan. “Opposition should ask whether Operation Sindoor was successful. The answer is, yes,” Singh said and shared details of the operation.
He said of the nine terror camps, seven were fully destroyed and India had proof of the damage incurred inside PoK and Pakistan. “The entire operation was over in 22 minutes and the Pahalgam killings were avenged. The attacks were non-escalatory in nature,” the defence minister said.
“Opposition should ask, were any of our brave soldiers harmed? The answer is no, none of our soldiers were harmed,” Singh asserted. He said that before executing Operation Sindoor, Indian armed forces studied every aspect and chose option that would cause maximum damage to terrorists, while ensuring no harm to innocent civilians.
India’s air defence systems, counter-drone system and electronic equipment foiled Pakistan’s attack, Singh said adding that armed forces fully achieved the objectives they had set in Operation Sindoor.
Referring to past attempts to improve ties with the neighbouring country, Singh said that India wants friendly relations with Pakistan and other countries and successive governments have made efforts in this regard.
“We once spoke language of ‘Lahore bus journey’, but Pakistan did not understand that; we now respond with ‘Balakot strike’. India first extends hand of friendship, but it also knows how to twist the wrist if any country betrays it,” Singh said. Op Sindoor, he said, was a symbol of
Operation Sindoor paused
India’s strength and demonstrated that the country will not remain silent if anyone harms its citizens. “Pakistan’s rulers know their soldiers cannot defeat India, hence they nurture terrorism and then claim innocence,” Singh said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today issued a stern warning to Pakistan saying India had drawn a new “Lakshman Rekha” on terrorism and would respond firmly and unambiguously to any such act to destabilize our country.
Opening a discussion on Operation Sindoor in Lok Sabha, the Defence Minister said “India has not only showcased its military capability but also demonstrated its national resolve, morality, and political acumen”.
“Pakistan is a country built on double standards and falsehoods, and it is now being seen as a failed State. Through Operation Sindoor, India has shown the entire world that we are determined to eradicate the evil game of terrorism from its roots,” he said.
He stated that Operation Sindoor symbolised India’s strength, sending a clear message that “any harm to our citizens will not go unanswered.”
Reiterating his point, he said that when it comes to national security, India’s political leadership and system will act decisively, free from any external influence or hesitation.
“Our missiles will cross physical borders, and our courageous soldiers will crush the enemy’s backbone,” he warned.
Reiterating that the Government is committed to eliminating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Rajnath Singh said, “In this context, there is an important point we must understand. Pakistan-sponsored terrorism is not random madness — there is a method to this madness. It is a well-planned strategy. It is driven by a “fundamental rage.”
“Pakistan-sponsored terrorism is not an act of madness — it is part of a calculated conspiracy. It is a deliberate process that uses terror as a political tool. This is not merely terrorism; it is a toolkit — a toolkit actively employed by Pakistan’s military and its agencies as a matter of policy. This toolkit stands in stark opposition to the civilised code of conduct that the rest of the world chooses to uphold. It is the product of a radical ideology that leaves no room for tolerance”.
He asserted that terrorism has been institutionalised as a tool of its foreign policy. The world must no longer harbour any illusions about Pakistan’s character, calling it a “nursery of global terrorism.”
“The current situation in Pakistan is well-known. A nation that chooses to make terrorism a cornerstone of its foreign policy eventually becomes entangled in its own web,” Singh stated.
Emphasising that Pakistan has consistently supported terror networks and elevated them to positions of national honour, Rajnath said, “During Operation Sindoor, the world saw how Pakistan held state funerals for terrorists, with even military officers in attendance. This is the same country that lacks the courage to confront Indian soldiers at the border and instead targets innocent civilians, children, and pilgrims.”
He said that Pakistan’s military and intelligence agency, the ISI, were using terrorism as a proxy war to destabilise India.
“I say this from the temple of democracy that those who dream of inflicting a ‘thousand cuts’ on India must wake up. This is the new India under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership — an India that will go to any extent to fight terrorism.”
He said, “A country like Pakistan, which is nowhere near us in terms of size, capability, strength, and prosperity—how can there be a competition with such a nation? Competing with a country that relies on others for its very existence means lowering our own standards. Our policy is to take effective action against terrorism. Our opposition to Pakistan stems from their policy of terrorism”.
The Defence Minister further said, “If we know how to extend a hand for the hope of peace, we also know how to uproot the hands that spread unrest. If we know how to make efforts for peace, we also know how to explain in the language that the wicked understand”.
