What has happened so far was just a warm-up: Rajnath on Operation Sindoor
'I want to tell all of you not to leave any shortcomings in your preparations. What has happened so far was just a warm-up; if Pakistan dares to act again, this time the Navy will also spring into action, and then only God knows what will happen to Pakistan,' he said.
In an interaction with naval warriors onboard aircraft carrier INS Vikrant off Goa, Singh said if Pakistan resorts to anything 'evil or unethical' against India, it will face the firepower and ire of the Indian Navy this time.
New Delhi, May 30 (PTI) Pakistan should hand over UN-designated terrorists Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to India if it is serious about talks between the two countries, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday.
Singh said 'Operation Sindoor is not over yet and this is just a pause, a warning. If Pakistan makes the same mistake again, India's response will be even harsher, and this time, it will not get a chance to recover.' Pakistan needs to understand that the time is up for the 'dangerous game' of terrorism it has been playing since Independence and India will use every method to root out the menace, he said.
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, Singh said.
The defence minister, highlighting the Indian Navy's role during Operation Sindoor, said it succeeded in keeping the Pakistani military tied down.
When the Indian Air Force destroyed terror bases on Pakistani soil, the Indian Navy's aggressive deployment in Arabian Sea confined Pakistani Navy to its own shores, he said.
Singh used his brief speech to the naval personnel to send a stern warning to Pakistan as he asserted that Operation Sindoor is not just a military action but India's frontal assault against terrorism.
'We will use every method against terrorism that Pakistan can think of, but we will not hesitate to use those methods also which Pakistan cannot even think of,' he said.
The defence minister said it would be in Pakistan's interest to 'uproot the nurseries' of terrorism operating on its soil 'with its own hands'.
'It should start by handing over terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to India. Both of them are not only on the list of 'Most Wanted Terrorists' in India but are also on the UN's list of designated terrorists,' he said.
Azhar, the head of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group, is wanted in India for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, 2016 Pathankot airbase attacks and the 2019 Pulwama strike.
Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group is known to be the mastermind of the Mumbai terror attack and wanted in several other terror cases in India.
'Today the whole world is acknowledging India's right to protect its citizens against terrorism. Today no power in the world can stop India from doing this work,' he said.
On Pakistan's repeated offer of talks, Singh clarified: 'If there are talks, it will only be on terrorism and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir. If Pakistan is serious about talks, it should hand over terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to India so that justice is served.' Commending the Indian Navy's 'silent service' during Operation Sindoor, Singh said the mighty Carrier Battle Group ensured that the Pakistani Navy did not venture out, or else it would have faced the consequences.
'1971 is a witness that when the Indian Navy sprang into action, Pakistan was split into two,' he said.
On the Operation Sindoor, he said 'our strike was so powerful that Pakistan began pleading with entire world to stop India.' In just a short span of time, we demolished Pakistan's terrorist bases and its intentions, he said adding the speed, depth and clarity with which our armed forces acted were remarkable.
Operation Sindoor not only sent a clear message to terrorists but also to their patrons who nurture them, Singh said.
In end, on our own terms, we halted our military actions, he said.
India carried out precision strikes on nine terror infrastructures early on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10.
The Pakistani attempts were strongly responded to by the Indian side by inflicting heavy damages to a number of key Pakistani military installations including air bases, air defence systems, command and control centres and radar sites.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on May 10 announced that India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect. PTI MPB ZMN
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
BJP claims Pinarayi Vijayan's son-in-law sponsored Jyoti Malhotra's Kerala trip
BJP leader and former Kerala state president K. Surendran on Saturady alleged that YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, recently arrested for espionage for Pakistan, was hosted by the Kerala Tourism Department under a state-sponsored program during her visit to Kannur. The department is headed by Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, who is also the son-in-law of Chief Minister Pinarayi took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), questioning the purpose behind Malhotra's Kerala trip. advertisement'Pak-Spy Jyoti Malhotra's Kannur trip was sponsored by Kerala Tourism, run by none other than Pinarayi Vijayan's son-in-law. Who did she meet? Where did she go? What's the real agenda? Why is Kerala rolling out red carpets for a Pak-linked spy?' Surendran said in a post on X. The post comes weeks after Malhotra, a resident of Hisar and creator of the 'Travel with JO' YouTube channel, was arrested under Operation Sindoor, a coordinated crackdown across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh targeting an alleged ISI-backed spy network. She faces charges under the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Investigators revealed that Malhotra maintained direct contact with Pakistan's ISI, allegedly passed sensitive data, and had multiple interactions at the Pakistan High Commission in also reportedly made two trips to Pakistan, and one surfaced video shows her in Lahore's Anarkali Bazaar under armed escort. She was remanded to 14-day judicial custody on 26 May InMust Watch
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
How do military standoffs affect aviation?
The story so far: After the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, India initiated a series of measures against Pakistan that included the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. In response to India's calibrated steps, Pakistan issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen), closing its airspace to Indian aircraft from April 24 to May 23 — multiple air traffic routes were unavailable across the north and south as well as a part of the Arabian Sea. India responded with a similar NOTAM on April 30, that was effective till May 23. Also Read | India extends airspace ban for Pakistan airlines till June 23 What happened after the hostilities? After India's tri-service Operation Sindoor (May 7-10), Pakistan opened its airspace resulting in some foreign airlines resuming overflights. However, both countries have again issued fresh notices, closing their airspace to Indian ('till June 24, 4.59 a.m., Pakistan Airports Authority') and Pakistan aircraft (June 23), respectively. Is there a history of airspace closure? Prof. Mohammad Owais Farooqui, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Law, Department of Public Law, College of Law, University of Sharjah, has told The Hindu that in the 1950s, India had objected to Pakistan's declaration of a 'prohibited zone' along its frontier as discriminatory as it allowed overflights by other nations. The dispute was resolved diplomatically but set a precedent that such restrictions must have bona fide security justifications. The Hindu's archives show that airspace closure has been a major issue corresponding with the state of bilateral ties. Following the 1965 India-Pakistan war, a report, 'Overflights from Feb. 10: Indo-Pak. Accord: Air Services to be Resumed From March 1' (The Hindu, February 8, 1966), highlighted 'an in principle agreement to allow overflights and a resumption of normal Pakistani and Indian services from March 1'. Pakistan also wanted a direct link to Dacca (Dhaka), which was cut off in the war in September. The report said that 'to reach East Pakistan from the west wing, Pakistan aircraft at present have to fly by Ceylon, a detour of more than 2,000 miles and that international flights have been forced to operate from Karachi to Bombay — across the Arabian Sea (connections to New Delhi are picked up from Bombay)'. In 1971, there was another ban following the hijacking of an Indian Airlines Fokker F-27 flight (Srinagar-Jammu) on January 30 to Pakistan. The passengers were released in Lahore and the plane was destroyed (burnt). A report, 'Pak. Civil Overflights Also Banned' (February 4, 1971), detailed India's banning of civilian overflights as well as continuing an existing ban on military aircraft until 'Pakistan had satisfactorily settled the question of compensation for the Indian aircraft'. The report said that flights in both countries were affected (Pakistan 'much more than India'). This incident also saw India filing a case in the World Court after Pakistan lodged a complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the United Nations Security Council against the overflight ban. The World Court ruled (14-2 vote) that ICAO had jurisdiction over the issue. The issue was resolved in June 1976, with India and Pakistan signing a memorandum of understanding on resumption of overflights and flights. Since then, there have been other closures and normalisations, with major events being the Kargil war (1999), the Indian Parliament attack (2001) and the Balakot airstrikes (2019). Also Read | Brace for longer flights to the Gulf, Europe and the U.S. as Pakistan shuts its airspace Is there an estimate of the losses? In 2002, India's Ministry of Civil Aviation was to seek budgetary support for Indian airlines after estimates of losses (Air India ₹40 crore a year; Indian Airlines ₹3.4 crore and the Airports Authority of India ₹5 crore from landing and parking charges and also overflights). Pakistan's losses were estimated to be five times more, according to the Minister of Civil Aviation. In 2019, the collective losses of Indian carriers were put at ₹548.93 crore (Rajya Sabha reply). A PTI report said Pakistan had suffered a $50 million loss. According to IATA, before the ban, at least 220 flights used Pakistan's airspace to operate between Asia and Europe. In 2025, the consolidated loss for the Indian aviation sector (including cargo) may be around ₹7,000 crore (indicative figure), according to reports that cite industry sources. Data reports based on the 2019 closure show that Pakistan lost approximately $2,32,000 every day in overflight charges and $3,00,000, if landing, parking and navigation fees were added. What were the airspace changes in 2025? There was a temporary closure of 32 airports across northern and western India. There was also a temporary closure of 25 segments of Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes within the Delhi and Mumbai Flight Information Regions (FIRs), 'unavailable from ground level to unlimited altitude' for aviation safety. Overflights were 'funnelled' along certain air routes, with Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Kolkata and Chennai air traffic control managing the traffic. In 2019, as many as 500 flights were rerouted overnight. On May 7, during Operation Sindoor, there were close to 500 aircraft (20% were Indian aircraft) movements from Indian airspace to Pakistan, aviation sources have told The Hindu. Some of the air routes used included N571, P574, L301, L505 and L639, in turn linked to flight management with the Muscat FIR. There was also a 30% increase in aircraft movement per hour, with peak hour traffic put at 40 aircraft. In air navigation terms, India and Pakistan share close to 12 waypoints, through which the Mumbai and Delhi FIRs feed air traffic, while there are six waypoints between the Mumbai and Muscat FIRs. The sources said that the traffic load from the 12 waypoints was shifted to these six waypoints. Established air traffic management procedures were used such as minimum aircraft separation standards (vertical, crossing and lateral for east and west-bound traffic). Flightradar24's director of communications has told The Hindu that there are few alternative routes via China due to the regimented nature of Chinese airspace and the presence of high mountains which can impact safe flight operations. Any routing that is less than optimal would add time and cost, he said. Will international aviation law hold? Prof. Farooqui says that while international aviation law provides mechanisms for redress, their effectiveness depends on political will and an understanding of the nuanced facts of this bilateral standoff.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Nadda backs CM, calls him a ‘loyal soldier of party's ideology'
Jaipur: Rejecting the notion of a political compromise in the appointment of Bhajan Lal Sharma as chief minister, BJP national president JP Nadda Saturday lauded his contribution to the party while describing him as a "loyal soldier of our (party's) ideology" with a proven track record of dedication to public service. Speaking at the 'Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Women Empowerment' conference in the city, Nadda said, "Making Bhajan Lal Sharma the chief minister is not the main issue; the real issue is appointing a dedicated soldier of the ideology; someone, who along his team, with full power, under Modi ji's leadership, is working tirelessly, day and night, in the service of the state." He also recalled his long association with Sharma. "Bhajan Lal Sharma is someone I've worked with since my youth. I've personally seen his dedication and discipline over the years," said Nadda, backing the move, which was then seen as 'unprecedented' as it sidelined the frontrunners like former CM Vasundhara Raje, ex-state president Satish Poonia and others for the top post. Raje, who was present at the event, said that a woman can handle every responsibility, while paying tribute to Holkar. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo She said, "Women walk the same road home as men, but never complain of being tired. They cook, serve, clean, manage both home and work, and yet, unlike many, they don't throw their shoes and say, 'I'm exhausted.'" Later in a programme on Punyashlok Devi Rani Ahilayabai Holkar's 300th birth anniversary at a private hotel, Nadda credited PM Modi with ushering in a "new political culture" in India over the past decade, one that prioritises accountability, development, and performance over political blame games. He also highlighted achievements of Operation Sindoor for destroying the headquarters of Pakistan-based terror groups - Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed - deep inside enemy territory. Reiterating that India's counter-terror operations will continue as long as Pakistan nurtures terrorism on its soil, he said, "Operation Sindoor has not stopped, and it will not stop until Pakistan corrects its mindset. " Recalling how in the past India responded to attacks like 26/11 with dossiers, he said this is Modi ji's India, a new, decisive India. "We don't send files anymore; we send a message, through action," Nadda declared. He credited Modi's leadership for transforming India's national security doctrine, citing major military responses like the surgical strike, the Balakot air strike, and now Operation Sindoor as proof of India's willingness to strike back, not reactively, but preemptively and with force. "If anyone dares to challenge India, the response will be delivered at their doorstep," he asserted, drawing loud applause from the audience. Nadda claimed that around 9-11enemy military bases and command centres were wiped out in India's counterstrikes when they threatened border areas and cities like Barmer, Srinagar, and Amritsar.
