During his first visit to Gujarat after Operation Sindoor, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Indian Air Force (IAF) men at the Bhuj Air Force Station. Singh praised the IAF’s accuracy and swiftness, highlighting that the operation demonstrated India’s military power to the world and effectively put an end to terrorism coming from the other side of the border.
“In the time it takes to have breakfast, you dealt with the enemies,” he said, highlighting that the IAF completed its mission in just 23 minutes, to the cheers of the people in attendance. Singh claimed that the operation had not only made all Indians proud but had also drawn attention from throughout the world, making it abundantly evident that India would not put up with terrorism and would react forcefully and precisely.
Operation Sindoor is still ongoing, Singh emphasized, calling the latest events “just a trailer” and threatening to show the “full movie” if provoked further. He restated that numerous Pakistani air bases had been destroyed during the operation, and that the Indian military had conquered and wiped out the enemy. Singh further noted that India’s BrahMos missile, which was instrumental in the strikes, has been acknowledged for its potency even by Pakistan.
The day after his tour to Jammu and Kashmir, where he visited army soldiers and questioned Pakistan’s capacity to manage nuclear weapons responsibly, the defense minister traveled to Bhuj. He pointed to Pakistan’s repeated reckless threats and urged the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to supervise its nuclear arsenal. Singh thanked the troops for their valor and efficiency in demolishing Pakistani installations and bunkers, delivering a powerful message to enemies.
Singh’s comments were made in the wake of the April 22 terror assault in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people, the majority of whom were tourists. On May 7, Operation Sindoor was initiated in retaliation, focusing on nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir that are associated with terrorism. Notably, IAF jets avoided entering Pakistani airspace by carrying out these missions from standoff distances more than 250 kilometers. Pakistan was forced to seek a truce after the operation, which involved strikes on more than 13 Pakistani air bases, drone centers, and radar installations in 23 minutes.
In response, Pakistan tried to launch swarm drone strikes on 36 Indian areas, but India’s integrated air defense systems stopped them. With Chinese PL-15 missiles and Turkish-backed drone operations targeting Indian installations, the operation also revealed a complicated partnership between China, Turkey, and Pakistan. India targeted Chinese-made equipment and radars in an effort to gradually weaken Pakistan’s air defense capability.
India has taken a strong diplomatic stand. “The Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, which was suspended following the Pahalgam attack, will remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably stops cross-border terrorism,” said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Additionally, India has made it clear that the only topic it is open to discussing with Pakistan is the vacation of Indian territory that is occupied by Pakistan. India has made it plain that its string of diplomatic actions following the Pahalgam attack will continue, even in the face of a ceasefire agreement agreed on May 10.
Following a call between the Director Generals of Military Operations of both nations, the Indian Army has expressed a willingness to advocate for border-wide initiatives aimed at fostering confidence in order to lower alert levels. But neither side has ever mentioned that the ceasefire needs to be periodically extended, underscoring the precarious state of calm along the Line of Control.
In his speech at Bhuj, Rajnath Singh emphasized the success of Operation Sindoor, its international recognition, India’s steadfast anti-terrorist posture, and the military’s readiness to counter any future provocations. The situation is still tense, with India continuing to put diplomatic and military pressure on Pakistan to put an end to cross-border terrorism before considering normalizing relations.