Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that Pakistan must uproot terrorism from its soil by handing over terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to India and take responsibility for terror nurseries on its soil if it truly wants meaningful talks between the two countries.
Speaking aboard the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant off the coast of Goa, Singh conveyed a stern warning to Pakistan. “India will not hesitate to use methods against terrorism that Pakistan cannot even think of,” he said.
Singh added that the Navy’s quiet strength prevented escalation during recent operations, but made it clear that India’s military capabilities remain fully prepared.
“This time Pakistan did not have to face the firepower of the Indian Navy, but the world knows that if Pakistan makes any unholy move, the opening may be at the hands of our Navy,” he said.
The Defence Minister warned that Pakistan’s ongoing support for terrorism will no longer be tolerated. “The dangerous game of terrorism that Pakistan has been playing since its independence against India is over,” he said, referring to Operation Sindoor as not just a military action but a direct attack on terrorism.
Singh added that India is prepared to use every available method to combat terrorism, including those beyond Pakistan’s imagination. “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.
He said Operation Sindoor sent a clear message not only to terrorists but also to their patrons who nurture them.
Reflecting on the Navy’s historical role, Singh reminded that had the Indian Navy acted in Operation Sindoor, Pakistan might have been divided even further. “1971 is a witness to this, that when the Indian Navy came into action, Pakistan was divided from one to two. If the Indian Navy had come into action in Operation Sindoor, then Pakistan would not only have been divided into two parts, but I think it would have been divided into four parts,” he said.
Singh also said that Pakistan must control its terror activities or face serious consequences. “Now, if Pakistan instigates any terrorist act against India, it will have to bear the consequences and face defeat,” he said—(KNO)
