India demonstrated its military strength but chose restraint during Operation Sindoor, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday, as he reaffirmed the country’s firm stance against terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
Speaking at the inaugural plenary of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi, Singh said, “We could have done more, but with power must come restraint.” The Defence Minister emphasized that India delivered a calibrated but decisive response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, sending a strong message across the border while upholding strategic maturity.
Referring to the retaliatory strikes launched on May 7, Singh said Indian forces had effectively targeted terrorist hideouts and enemy airbases. Operation Sindoor, he noted, was made possible by the strength India has built under the Make in India initiative.
“Make in India is not just about economic growth—it’s integral to national security. Without our indigenous capabilities, such a powerful and precise response to terrorism, stretching from lower Pakistan to PoK, would not have been possible,” Singh said.
Operation Sindoor resulted in the elimination of over 100 terrorists linked to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The mission also involved strategic strikes on 11 Pakistani airbases, targeting radar systems and communication centres in response to cross-border shelling and attempted drone incursions.
Following the operation, India and Pakistan announced a cessation of hostilities on May 10, marking a temporary halt in escalating tensions.
Reiterating India’s policy shift, Singh made it clear that future talks with Pakistan would be limited strictly to discussions on terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). “We have redefined our dialogue parameters. There will be no conversation on any other issue,” he asserted.
Looking ahead, Singh expressed confidence that PoK residents—whom he called “our own people”—will one day voluntarily rejoin India. “We believe in ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.’ Those who are politically separated from us today will return with self-respect and pride. Most in PoK feel a bond with India; only a few have been misled,” Singh said.
He concluded by invoking the spirit of unity and peace: “India has always believed in connecting hearts. The day is not far when PoK will say, ‘I am Indian, and I have come back.’”
Singh’s remarks underscore India’s evolving doctrine—marked by assertive defence, controlled escalation, and a long-term vision rooted in unity and strategic self-reliance.
