Srinagar: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Srinagar air base in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, where he met with Indian Air Force personnel. He was accompanied by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
As the soldiers interacted with Singh, they raised slogans of ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’. The Defence Minister also visited soldiers at Badami Bagh Cantonment and boosted their morale by praising their bravery and valor during Operation Sindoor. During the interactions, he shook hands with and patted the shoulders of the jawans to show his appreciation.
Singh inspected Pakistani shells found in J-K following cross-border shelling after India targeted terror infrastructure under Operation Sindoor. He commended the soldiers for destroying Pakistani positions and warned that Pakistan would never forget the impact of Operation Sindoor.
Addressing the crowd, Singh criticized Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities, questioning if nuclear weapons are safe in the hands of such a “rogue” nation. He emphasized India’s resolve against terrorism, highlighting that the Indian military’s precise strikes leave Pakistan’s nuclear threats ineffective. The Defence Minister called for international oversight, suggesting that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal should be monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a strong military response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in 26 deaths. The armed forces targeted terrorist infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, killing over 100 terrorists linked to groups like JeM, LeT, and Hizbul Mujahideen. Following the operation, Pakistan responded with cross-border shelling and attempted drone attacks. India retaliated with coordinated strikes against radar, communication centers, and airbases in Pakistan.
On May 10, both sides announced a ceasefire and an end to hostilities.