Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in his address to the Lok Sabha on Monday, praised the Indian military for its precision military action—'Operation Sindoor'—against terrorist groups operating from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He highlighted the Indians' caution to spare civilian populations from damage during the strikes.
Opening the long-awaited parliamentary debate on the operation, Singh said that while there were a number of military strategies, the armed forces chose one which resulted in the full elimination of terrorist camps without compromising regional peace and security.
"I pay respects to the martyrs who put their lives in danger in line of duty for the country. Today, they are also prepared and at the forefront. I also pay respects and convey the gratitude of the country to such fallen heroes who laid their lives for the country," the Defence Minister stated.
He recalled that the military action came as a direct retaliation to the terror attack in Pahalgam. "On May 6-7, the Indian armed forces carried out a military action, named 'Operation Sindoor'. This was not just a military action but an effective and decisive demonstration of our policy to protect the sovereignty, identity of the country and our fight against terrorism," he stated.
Singh commented on the Pahalgam incident as horribly brutal and cowardly against India. "On April 22, an inhuman and cowardly terror attack took place in which 25 Indians and a Nepali citizen lost their lives. They were killed after they were asked about their religion, which is a disgusting example of the most inhuman act. This attack was also a test of India's tolerance," he said.
He further said that after the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called a high-level meeting with the military leadership and gave them complete autonomy to retaliate in a proper manner, considering strategic, operational, and regional perspectives.
"After that, our military leadership not only demonstrated its maturity but also displayed a strategic wisdom, which is to be expected from a responsible power like India," Singh observed.
Explaining the conduct of the operation, the Defence Minister stated, "Prior to conducting 'Operation Sindoor', our forces tested various methods and ultimately finalized a plan where all the terror camps are totally destroyed and made sure that no civilian in Pakistan is injured."
He welcomed the success and accuracy of the strikes: "The coordinated attacks conducted by our forces targeted nine terror targets with accuracy. Also, in this operation, more than 100 terrorists, including their masters and trainers, belonging to terror groups like Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba were eliminated. I am making an attempt to be very specific, but the figure can be much more."
Singh's speech highlighted India's strong opposition to terrorism and its dedication to upholding national security while being tactically responsible.
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