DD Defence Correspondent
DRAS, Ladakh (India): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday issued a stern warning to Pakistan, asserting that Operation Sindoor has demonstrated India’s capability to respond decisively to every act of aggression.
He also ruled out any dialogue with Pakistan except on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which he described as an integral part of India under illegal occupation.
Addressing the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorations at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras, Singh said every attempt to undermine India’s sovereignty would be met with a resolute response by the Indian Armed Forces.
“The success of Operation Sindoor is proof that India possesses the capability to respond to Pakistan’s every misadventure with a severity far beyond its imagination,” he said, adding that any future talks with Pakistan would focus solely on PoK.
Accusing Pakistan of adopting terrorism as a state policy, the Defence Minister said the distinction between its military and terrorist groups had disappeared. He asserted that during Operation Sindoor, India made it clear that it no longer viewed terrorists and the governments supporting them as separate entities.
Drawing a sharp contrast between the two countries, Singh said India is advancing through innovation, technology and economic growth, while Pakistan continues to promote terrorism and infiltration. “India is building a start-up ecosystem, manufacturing semiconductors, launching space missions and connecting the world through UPI, whereas Pakistan is nurturing terrorism, radicalisation and proxy warfare,” he said.
Paying tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives during the 1999 Kargil War, Singh described Kargil Vijay Diwas as a symbol of courage, sacrifice and national unity. He remembered the fallen heroes, including Param Vir Chakra awardees Captain Vikram Batra and Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, saying their bravery continues to inspire generations of Indians.
The Defence Minister stressed that national security is a shared responsibility and called upon every citizen to uphold the spirit of “Nation First”. He said the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 extends beyond economic development and includes strategic strength, cultural pride and social harmony.
Highlighting the government’s focus on defence self-reliance, Singh said India has significantly reduced its dependence on imported defence equipment and is now manufacturing around 65 per cent of its defence requirements domestically. He cited indigenous platforms such as INS Vikrant, Tejas, Prachand, Dhruv, Arjun, Pinaka, Astra and the Akash-Teer air defence system as examples of India’s growing military capability.
Earlier, Rajnath Singh laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial and observed a two-minute silence in memory of the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during Operation Vijay. He also inaugurated a Virtual Walkthrough Portal showcasing the history of the Kargil War, visited the Hut of Remembrance and flagged in the Shaurya Vijay Yatra motorcycle rally, organised as part of the Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorations.
The ceremony was attended by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, senior military officials, Kargil War veterans, gallantry awardees, Veer Naris, families of martyrs and civil dignitaries.
