New Delhi:
Amid escalating tensions with Pakistan following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered a powerful message on Monday, promising a strong and decisive response to any threat against India.
Speaking at an event in the national capital, Singh reaffirmed his commitment to national security and assured citizens that the government would act firmly in the face of provocations.
“As the Defence Minister, it is my responsibility to work alongside our armed forces to protect the nation’s borders and to give a befitting reply to anyone who casts an evil eye on India,” he said.
His remarks came in the wake of a gruesome terror attack that killed 26 tourists in Pahalgam, an incident India has directly linked to cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
Rajnath Singh also made a pointed reference to public sentiment calling for action.
“I want to assure you that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, what you desire will certainly happen,” he stated, hinting at a possible retaliatory measure being considered by the government.
He praised the Prime Minister’s leadership style, calling him a leader known for taking risks and acting with decisive determination in the country’s interest.
As part of its immediate response to the attack, India has already suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, halted visa services for Pakistani nationals, and adopted a tougher stance on bilateral engagement. Meanwhile, ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces have increased along the Line of Control (LoC), prompting swift and effective countermeasures by Indian troops.
India has a precedent for retaliatory action. In 2019, the Indian Air Force carried out an airstrike on a terrorist training camp in Balakot, Pakistan, following the Pulwama suicide bombing that killed 40 CRPF personnel. In 2016, Indian special forces executed surgical strikes on terror launchpads across the LoC in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, days after 19 Indian soldiers were martyred in Uri.
With tensions once again rising in the region, Singh’s statement signals that India is prepared to respond strongly, both militarily and diplomatically, to any act of aggression or terror linked to Pakistan.
