Opening the much-awaited discussion on ‘Operation Sindoor’ in the Lok Sabha, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday noted that although the Indian forces had several tactical choices, they deliberately selected an approach that effectively eliminated the terror targets, guided by strategic foresight and the goal of maintaining regional peace and security.
Singh lauded the Indian armed forces and thanked them for executing precision strikes on terrorist groups based in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir under ‘Operation Sindoor’, while taking utmost care to avoid civilian casualties.
Watch: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, “The powerful strikes by the Indian Air Force, the strong counter-action by our Army along the Line of Control, and the threat of navy forced Pakistan to bend. Pakistan’s failure was not just a strategic defeat, but also a blow to… pic.twitter.com/kEbZJGimqX
— IANS (@ians_india) July 28, 2025
“I salute the valiant soldiers who put their lives on the line in service to the nation. Even today, they stand ready at the frontlines,” he stated. “I also honour and express the nation’s deep gratitude to the brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country.”
“Between May 6 and 7, our armed forces launched a mission called ‘Operation Sindoor’. This was more than a routine military move—it was a strong and resolute assertion of India’s commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty, national identity, and continuing fight against terrorism”, Rajnath Singh said, reflecting on India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror incident.
Watch: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, “The powerful strikes by the Indian Air Force, the strong counter-action by our Army along the Line of Control, and the threat of navy forced Pakistan to bend. Pakistan’s failure was not just a strategic defeat, but also a blow to… pic.twitter.com/kEbZJGimqX
— IANS (@ians_india) July 28, 2025
The Defence Minister said that shortly after the terrorist attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a high-level meeting with the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, granting them full autonomy to take decisive action based on their judgement, strategic insights, and regional security considerations.
Following this directive, Singh noted, “Our military leadership not only acted with maturity but also demonstrated the kind of strategic vision expected from a responsible global power like India.”
He further stated, “Before launching ‘Operation Sindoor’, the armed forces carefully evaluated multiple options and ultimately chose a plan that ensured the complete destruction of all terrorist camps, while making sure that no Pakistani civilian was harmed in the process.”
Praising the execution of the operation, the Defence Minister said, “The coordinated strikes by our armed forces precisely targeted nine terrorist locations. In the course of this mission, more than 100 terrorists—including their handlers and trainers—from groups such as Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba were eliminated. I am sharing a conservative estimate, but the actual number could be significantly higher.”
Watch: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, “Sometimes our opposition leaders keep asking how many of our aircraft were downed. I believe this question does not truly reflect the sentiments of our nation. Not even once did they ask us how many enemy aircraft our forces shot… pic.twitter.com/t5AKYyyMrV
— IANS (@ians_india) July 28, 2025
(With inputs from IANS)
