BHUJ, May 16 — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday declared that Operation Sindoor remains active and warned Pakistan that the ongoing ceasefire does not signify reconciliation but a conditional reprieve.
“Pakistan is on probation. If its behaviour improves, it’s fine—but if there is any disturbance, the harshest punishment will be given,” Singh said, addressing Indian Air Force personnel at the Bhuj Air Force Station.
The minister described the current anti-terror operation as a turning point in India’s military posture. “Our forces have not only dominated the enemy, they have decimated it,” he said.
Standing beside IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, with Jaguar jets and a Pechora air defence system in the backdrop, Singh praised the IAF for executing a precise and powerful air campaign.
“It is no small matter that our Air Force can access every corner of Pakistan, and that has been fully proven,” he said. “India’s fighter jets are now capable of striking targets across Pakistan without even crossing the border.”
According to Singh, nine terror camps were destroyed in the initial phase of the operation, followed by strikes that damaged multiple enemy airbases.
“The world has witnessed how our Air Force crushed nine terrorist bases on Pakistani soil. Later, several of their air installations were also hit. Through this, we have demonstrated that India’s war policy and its military technology have evolved,” Singh told the gathering.
He underscored that the fight against terrorism is now embedded in India’s core defence doctrine. “It is no longer just about national security. We are committed to rooting out this hybrid and proxy warfare once and for all,” he said.
The minister also projected India’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing as a strategic asset. “India is no longer dependent solely on foreign platforms. Weapons made in India, by Indian hands, are now part of our frontline arsenal,” he stated.
“Now, the entire world has seen that Indian-made weapons are not just effective, they are also impenetrable,” Singh said, reaffirming the government’s push for indigenisation in defence.
