SRINAGAR: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday declared that the NDA government is fully prepared to cross any international border when necessary to protect Indian citizens and uphold national integrity, citing past military operations including the 2016 surgical strikes, the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, and the recent Operation Sindoor.
Speaking at the ‘JITO Connect’ event, organised by the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO) in Hyderabad, Singh as per NDTV, stated that the government’s military responses have consistently targeted only terrorist infrastructure, and never civilian or military establishments, even when provoked.
“Innocent people were killed in the Pahalgam terror attack after being identified by their religion,” Singh said. “But when we conducted our operations, we saw no religion. We targeted only those centres responsible for harbouring terrorists.”
Referring to India’s military posture, the Defence Minister underscored the message that the country would not hesitate to act across borders in defence of its people. He said the NDA government’s response to cross-border terrorism has been both measured and decisive, with a focus on maintaining the ethical high ground.
“If we wanted, we could have attacked military or civilian sites [in Pakistan] earlier, but we chose not to,” Singh added, according to Hindustan Times, suggesting that India’s restraint should not be mistaken for weakness.
Operation Sindoor, the most recent of the cross-border operations referenced, remains largely classified, but officials have indicated it was aimed at neutralising imminent threats.
