Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has issued a severe warning to Pakistan, stating that any further terrorist acts on Indian soil will have “disastrous” consequences for Pakistan. This announcement follows Operation Sindoor, a large military operation initiated by India in retribution for the Pahalgam terror incident on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 people, predominantly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir.
The incident, one of the bloodiest since the 2008 Mumbai bombings, was initially claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Taiba, although TRF later denied involvement. The severity of the attack, which targeted religious minorities and included the killing of tourists after verifying their faith, strained India-Pakistan relations.
Operation Sindoor, carried out on the night of May 6 and 7, targeted nine terror facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, with deep attacks reaching as far as Rawalpindi, the Pakistani Army’s headquarters.
Singh stressed that the operation was more than just a military response; it was a symbol of India’s political, social, and strategic will to combat terrorism. He emphasized that the operation was a direct message to Pakistan: its lengthy tactic of inflicting “a thousand cuts” on India through terrorism would no longer be permitted, and India’s retaliation would become more severe if pushed further.
While speaking to troops from the Northern Command in Udhampur, Singh made it clear that Operation Sindoor is “not over yet,” describing it as a halt rather than a conclusion. He praised the Indian armed forces and intelligence agencies for their precision, coordination, and daring, showing a dramatic shift in India’s anti-terrorist policy—from reactive to proactive and assertive. Singh warned that any future terror strikes would elicit even more severe retribution, potentially leading to devastating consequences for Pakistan.
The aftermath of the Pahalgam incident and Operation Sindoor has also had an impact on diplomatic relations. India has adopted a harsh approach, suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, expelling Pakistani diplomats, and closing borders, while Pakistan has imposed its own diplomatic and trade restrictions. These events have increased military tensions and exchanges of fire along the Line of Control.
Despite these concerns, Singh is scheduled to visit China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ meeting in Qingdao from June 25 to 27. This would be India’s first high-level ministerial visit to China since the 2020 Ladakh border conflict, indicating a possible improvement in bilateral relations. The SCO meeting will focus on regional security, counter-terrorism, and connectivity, with India attempting to ensure that the Pahalgam incident is addressed in the summit’s final documents, while Pakistan seeks to include references to attacks blamed on Baloch separatists.
Rajnath Singh’s warning, as well as India’s aggressive military and diplomatic response, represent a new era in India’s counter-terrorism policy, characterised by assertiveness and a willingness to escalate if provoked. The situation remains heated, with serious consequences for regional security and international diplomacy.
