Defence Minister Rajnath Singh In Srinagar, Meets Army Troops
New Delhi:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar on Thursday morning - in a first visit to the Valley after India's Operation Sindoor, a military strike on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
During the visit, the Defence Minister reviewed the overall security scenario and the combat readiness of the Indian Armed Forces. He also visited the Army's 15 Corps Headquarters and interacted with the army personnel.
Mr Singh is accompanied by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Punjab's Adampur air base and interacted with soldiers.
Adampur was among the air force stations that Pakistan attempted to attack on the intervening night of May 9 and 10 after India's "Operation Sindoor". Pakistan also claimed that its hypersonic missiles fired from JF-17 fighter jets destroyed India's S-400 air defence system in Adampur - a charge rejected by the Indian officials.
PM Modi delivered a strong message from the tarmac at the Adampur Air Force base.
"Our intent is clear...if there is another attack, India will respond. We saw this after the terror attack on an Army base in J&K's Uri in 2016 and Balakot airstrikes (after the 2019 Pulwama attack). Operation Sindoor is the new normal," the PM said, emphasising it will become a policy of Indian governments to take "decisive action against state-sponsored terror attacks on its citizens".
In his speech, the PM also thanked the armed forces for their defence of the nation, both against Pakistan's attacks and the many terrorist strikes of the past.
Operation Sindoor, India-Pak ceasefire
India, in an overnight operation, carried out 24 missile strikes in 25 minutes across nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, killing 100 terrorists. According to the government, it went for the "snake's head and not foot soldiers" this time, demonstrating its new approach to killing terrorists within Pakistan.
Tensions between the two countries heightened after India's Operation Sindoor. Since then, India repulsed multiple waves of drone and missile attacks by Pakistan targeting Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Punjab. By Sunday evening, Pakistan called for a ceasefire, but ended up violating it within hours.
The border has witnessed calm since then.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Brooms, not bars: Manipur cops' move for ‘misguided youths'
1 2 Imphal: In a novel twist to conventional policing, Manipur Police have traded handcuffs for brooms and shovels, initiating a 'community service' programme for dozens of youths detained in various districts of the valley during violent protests since June 7. This unique approach follows the unrest which was witnessed on the streets after the arrest of Arambai Tenggol leader Asem Kanan Singh and four associates during a joint operation of Manipur Police and the CBI as he was wanted in several cases. During the protests, people demanded unconditional release of Singh and others, leading to a 10-day bandh called by Arambai Tenggol, which was eventually called off on Tuesday. Instead of facing formal charges that could mar their futures, over three dozen young people found themselves on the streets, not as rioters, but as cleaners. Leveraging the innovative provisions of the recently introduced Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Manipur Police handed them the tools of civic duty — brooms and shovels — to clear the very roadblocks, burnt tyres and concrete debris they or others had created during the protests. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo This unconventional move, police officials said, was a deliberate choice to safeguard the careers of these 'misguided youths'. By invoking Section 4(f) of the BNSS, which advises community service for first-time offenders involved in minor misconduct, authorities are offering a path to rehabilitation rather than punitive measures. Widely shared photos and videos show these young people in custody sweeping the roads and cleaning up the mess left over from the three-day protest, creating a powerful picture of justice balanced with a touch of civic duty. The unrest that preceded this unusual policing method was significant. On June 7, widespread agitation erupted across various valley districts following the arrest of Singh, a dismissed head constable of Manipur Police. The accused is wanted in several cases, including the Feb 27, 2024, attack by armed Arambai Tenggol members on the residence of Imphal West additional superintendent of police (operations) Moirangthem Amit. Investigations are also underway into his alleged involvement in drug mafia, vandalising offices belonging to the deputy inspector general (DIG) and inspector general (IG), an attack on the 1st Manipur Rifles and arms smuggling. PTI
India Today
42 minutes ago
- India Today
Crippled by Op Sindoor strikes, Pak eyeing Germany for air defence upgrades
Rattled by the devastating impact of BrahMos missile strikes during India's Operation Sindoor, Pakistan is now exploring the procurement of a new air defence system to counter future to sources, Islamabad is actively considering the purchase of the IRIS-T SLM air defence system from Germany in a bid to strengthen its aerial shield against India's supersonic cruise missiles, particularly the move comes after Pakistan's existing Chinese-origin air defence systems, including the HQ-9 and HQ-16, failed to detect or intercept Indian missile attacks during the operation. In contrast, the IRIS-T SLM system has demonstrated significant effectiveness in recent combat situations. In Ukraine, where several units were redirected from Egypt due to the ongoing war, the German-made system has reportedly shot down over 60 aerial targets since its deployment last it was said to have successfully intercepted Russian Oniks missiles, which are similar in profile to India's by Diehl Defence, the IRIS-T SLM is known for its modular and compact architecture. Each unit, estimated to cost around USD 200 million, includes radar, an operations centre, and launchers, all mounted on a 20-foot interest in the system highlights its urgent push to rebuild and upgrade its air defence network, particularly after key air bases were damaged by Indian missiles during Operation grappling with a severe economic crisis, Pakistan has raised its defence budget by 18 per cent this year while simultaneously scrapping domestic development projects valued at 1,000 billion Pakistani the past month, the country has secured financial assistance totalling USD 1.8 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to address its fiscal Germany's Diehl Defence, the maker of the IRIS-T SLM, is also involved in a major Indian defence initiative. The company is collaborating with Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems on Project 75I, a Rs 70,000 crore programme to build six submarines for the Indian Indian-German collaboration also includes the development of the Interactive Defence and Attack System (IDAS), which will be integrated into the India's Reliance Defence has announced a partnership to manufacture Vulcano 155mm precision-guided artillery shells domestically. The initiative is expected to generate revenues of approximately Rs 10,000 crore, with over 50 per cent of the components to be produced indigenously.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
India Won Operation Sindoor – But What Does The Army Want Next, And Who Poses The Greatest Threat?
New Delhi: India crushed Pakistan's assault during Operation Sindoor. But after the dust settled, something more alarming came into view. China was not sitting on the sidelines. It was pulling strings from behind the curtain. Indian radars picked up Chinese-made jets in Pakistani skies. Chinese missiles were used to target Indian bases. Beijing was deeply involved. That means India was not fighting just Pakistan. India was up against two enemies at once. Military officers have sounded the alarm. They want India's defence budget raised to 2.5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Right now, the defence allocation stands at just 1.9%. A huge portion of that money goes into salaries and pensions. Only a quarter of it helps modernise the military. This cannot continue. Not when two hostile neighbours are preparing for something bigger. China has been pumping weapons into Pakistan. In the May 7-10 clashes, Pakistan deployed Chinese J-10 jets and HQ-9 missile systems. Beijing has promised to send more – stealth fighters, long-range air defence weapons and new-generation drones. China is flooding Pakistan with cutting-edge military tools. Pakistan's economy is in crisis. But even then, Islamabad raised its defence budget by 20%. It cut development. It ignored debt. It focused on weapons. India must respond, believe experts, arguing that it is time for total self-reliance in defence production. India must build fighter jets, drones, loitering munitions and missiles on its own. The private sector must step in. Half-measures will not do. Half-prepared armies lose wars. India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project has started moving. But it must move faster. Tejas took decades. The same mistake cannot happen again. The Indian Air Force is short on fighter squadrons. It has just 30. The target is 42.5. Drones are the new face of war. Swarm drones. FPV kamikaze drones. Loitering drones. India needs all of these, and it needs them in bulk. No country will come to India's rescue in a full-scale war. India must stand on its own. During Operation Sindoor, India used Russian S-400s, Israeli Barak-8s and its own Akash missiles. These systems intercepted and neautralised many Pakistani drone and missile attacks. But more layers are needed. DRDO must now accelerate two things – short-range air defence systems and long-range strike missiles like Project Kusha. Military reform is also crucial. India has a huge army. It must cut unnecessary spending. It must remove red tape from weapons procurement. And it must create joint theatre commands that allow the Army, Navy and Air Force to fight as one. A senior military commander put it bluntly. India is now staring at a superpower that is feeding a hostile neighbour. Pakistan may fire the bullets. But China is loading the gun. India cannot look away anymore. The next battle may not wait for long.
