The North News
Goa, May 30
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday praised the Indian Navy’s strategic success during a recent operation, framing it as a silent but potent signal to Pakistan. Addressing the gathering after meeting with Indian Navy personnel aboard INS Vikrant today during his visit to Goa, Rajnath Singh said. “Just imagine the impact when someone who can bottle up a military in silence chooses to speak,” he told naval personnel, suggesting that the operation served as a powerful, if understated, warning.
“Operation Sindoor is not just a military action, but India’s frontal assault against terrorism, and if Pakistan resorts to anything evil or unethical, it will, this time, face the firepower and ire of the Indian Navy,” said Rajnath Singh. Commending the Indian Navy’s “silent service” during Operation Sindoor, Defence Minister said that the mighty Carrier Battle Group ensured that the Pakistani Navy did not venture out, or else it would have faced the consequences. He sent a clear message to Pakistan that if it tries to cast an evil eye, the opening of New Delhi’s response will be at the hands of the Indian Navy.
Rajnath Singh asserted that Pakistan needs to understand that the time is up for the dangerous game of terrorism it has been playing since Independence. “Now, if Pakistan instigates any terrorist act against India, it will have to bear the consequences and face defeat. India will not hesitate. It will use every method to root out the menace of terrorism,” he said.
Rajnath Singh added that anti-India activities are being carried out openly from Pakistani soil and India is completely free to carry out every kind of operation against terrorists on both sides of the border and the sea. Today, the whole world is acknowledging India’s right to protect its citizens against terrorism, he said, emphasising that Pakistan must uproot the nursery of terrorism operating on its soil with its own hands
The Defence Minister called for the handing over of terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to India. “Both of them are not only in India’s list of ‘Most Wanted Terrorists’, they are also UN Designated Terrorists. Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the Mumbai attacks, has been brought to India recently. Hafiz Saeed is also guilty of the Mumbai attacks, and justice must be done for his crime,” he said.
On Pakistan’s repeated offer of talks, the Defence Minister again clarified: “If there are talks, it will only be on terrorism and PoK. If Pakistan is serious about talks, it should hand over terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to India so that justice is served.”
Describing the Indian Navy’s role in the integrated operation as praiseworthy, Rajnath Singh said that when the Indian Air Force destroyed the terror bases on Pakistani soil, the Navy’s aggressive deployment in the Arabian Sea, its unmatched maritime domain awareness and supremacy confined the Pakistani Navy to its own shores. “Our Western Fleet ships deployed at sea, within 96 hours of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, carried out successful firings of surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles and torpedoes on the western & eastern coast. It demonstrated the combat readiness of our platforms, systems and crew and our intent and readiness, forcing the enemy to come into a defensive posture,” he said.
