Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing the Lok Sabha on Monday, firmly rejected claims that India halted Operation Sindoor under external pressure. He declared that the military operation was concluded only after achieving its political and strategic objectives in full.
“India stopped the operation because all the political and military objectives were achieved beforehand. Therefore, to say that the operation was halted due to any pressure is completely wrong,” Singh said, opening the official debate on the operation that had gripped the nation earlier this year.
The Minister described Operation Sindoor as a precision-led response aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure across the border, not a campaign for territorial gains. “Crossing the border or capturing territory there was not the objective of Operation Sindoor. The aim of launching the operation was to eliminate those terror nurseries that Pakistan had nurtured for many years,” he added.
Rajnath Singh revealed that on May 10, the Indian Air Force conducted successful strikes on multiple Pakistani airfields. Following these strikes, Pakistan acknowledged defeat and offered to cease hostilities. “This offer was accepted with the caveat that this operation has only been paused. If any misadventure occurs from Pakistan’s side in the future, this operation will be resumed,” he warned.
Reiterating the effectiveness of India’s defence systems, Singh said, “Our Air Defence system, Counter-Drone system, and electronic equipment completely foiled Pakistan’s attacks. Pakistan could not hit any of our targets, and none of our important assets were damaged.”
Responding to criticism from the Opposition, Singh hit out at their line of questioning. “Few members of the Opposition have been asking how many of our aircraft were shot down? I feel their question does not adequately represent our national sentiments. They have not asked how many enemy aircraft our Armed Forces shot down,” he remarked.
He further urged the House to focus on outcomes that mattered to the people. “If you must ask a question, ask this: Were any of our brave soldiers harmed in this operation? The answer is, no. None of our soldiers were harmed. Did we destroy terrorist bases? Yes, we did,” he stated emphatically.
Singh concluded by reaffirming India’s right to self-defence and its readiness to respond again if provoked. Operation Sindoor, he said, demonstrated India’s resolve and military precision without escalating into a full-blown conflict.
