Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the Lok Sabha regarding Operation Sindoor, stating that the operation achieved its objectives and was subsequently "paused". He affirmed India's strong resolve against terrorism and emphasized that the military action would resume if Pakistan engaged in any further "misadventure".
Operation Sindoor was launched in response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. The "Resistance Front" (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack. India responded by targeting terrorist training camps at nine locations within Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. According to Indian reports, the strikes specifically targeted terrorist infrastructure belonging to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, avoiding Pakistani military or civilian facilities. However, Pakistan claimed that the strikes hit civilian areas.
Singh stated that the objective of Operation Sindoor was to eliminate terror nurseries established by Pakistan and to provide justice for the families of the victims of the Pahalgam attack. He asserted that the operation sent a clear message to supporters of terrorism that India is committed to defending its homeland. He highlighted that "decisive action has replaced dossiers," signaling a shift in India's approach to cross-border terrorism.
The Defence Minister clarified that the decision to pause Operation Sindoor was made after achieving the desired politico-military objectives. He refuted claims that the operation was halted due to external pressure, asserting that these claims were "baseless and incorrect". Singh stated that Pakistan's Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO) had requested his Indian counterpart to end the strikes. Formal talks between the two DGMOs on May 12, 2025, led to both sides agreeing to halt operations.
Singh emphasized that India has always sought cordial relations with its neighbors, including Pakistan, but its peace efforts have been "misunderstood as naive". He stated that the government has adopted a strategy of responding to terrorism with decisive action, referencing the surgical strike in 2016, the Balakot airstrike in 2019, and Operation Sindoor in 2025. According to Singh, "terrorism and talks cannot go together". He also characterized the conflict with Pakistan as one between "civilization versus barbarism," accusing Pakistan of using terrorism as a tool against India.
During the Lok Sabha debate, Singh criticized the opposition for questioning the number of Indian planes shot down instead of focusing on the number of enemy planes destroyed. He stated that India's defense and counter-drone systems successfully intercepted incoming projectiles and missiles, preventing damage to Indian military establishments. Singh also praised the coordination between the three wings of the Indian Armed Forces during Operation Sindoor.
The Defence Minister underlined that Operation Sindoor demonstrated India's strength and resolve. He reiterated that India would not remain silent if its citizens are harmed and that the country is capable of acting decisively in self-defense, without succumbing to external pressure.
