21 June, 2025:
In a strong and unequivocal message to terrorists, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday declared that India will no longer tolerate being a victim of terrorism.
While interacting with soldiers at the Northern Command in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reaffirmed that Operation Sindoor has only been paused, not ended, and warned that Pakistan’s attempts to inflict “a thousand cuts” on India through terrorism will not succeed.
"Your bravery is widely admired across the nation. I salute the valour and courage of the Indian Army," Rajnath Singh said during his address.
"We not only foiled their plans but also took such retaliatory action that Pakistan had to kneel down. Any terrorist attack on Indian soil is going to cost Pakistan very dearly," the Defence Minister said.
"The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam was not merely an isolated incident from across the border, but a direct attempt to target India's social and communal harmony. We not only foiled their nefarious plans but also delivered such a powerful response that Pakistan was forced to kneel down, leading us to announce a temporary halt to Operation Sindoor. As we have stated earlier, Operation Sindoor is not yet over," said the Union minister.
He added, "This operation was not just a reaction to the Pahalgam terror attack. Through Operation Sindoor, we have sent a clear message to Pakistan that sponsoring terrorism against India will have increasingly severe consequences. Operation Sindoor is the natural progression of the 2016 Surgical Strike and the 2019 Air Strike."
"With this operation, we have conveyed to Pakistan that its long-standing campaign of inflicting wounds on India through terrorism will no longer succeed. Any terror attack on Indian soil will now come at a very high cost to Pakistan. India is fully prepared to take every necessary step in its fight against terrorism," he said.
Speaking about the theme of this year's Yoga day celebrations, the Defence Minister said, "Every year, we celebrate Yoga Day with a unique theme. This year's theme, "One Earth, One Health", reflects India's belief in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam--that the whole world is one family."
