In a strong message to Pakistan, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday cautioned against provoking India, stating that the country is fully prepared to offer a “quality response” if challenged. His remarks follow Pakistan’s attempt to target 15 Indian military installations in retaliation for Operation Sindoor.
India responded by striking multiple air defence radar positions within Pakistan, successfully taking down a system located in Lahore.
Addressing the situation, Singh said, “India has consistently acted as a responsible nation, exercising great restraint. We prefer dialogue to resolve conflicts, but that doesn’t mean our patience can be exploited.” He emphasized that anyone attempting to do so would face a decisive reaction, like the one witnessed during Operation Sindoor.
Operation Sindoor, led by the Indian Armed Forces, targeted terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). According to Singh, several such camps were eliminated, marking a significant achievement for the military.
Commending the armed forces for their precision and bravery, Singh noted that nine terror camps were dismantled and a substantial number of militants were neutralized during the operation. “This was a demonstration of quality – carried out with remarkable precision, minimal collateral damage, and no civilian casualties,” he said during the National Quality Conclave in New Delhi.
He credited this successful mission to the capabilities and equipment of India’s military forces, describing them as “formidable and professionally trained.”
Singh also highlighted the government’s efforts in strengthening domestic defence production. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on “defence sovereignty” since 2014, emphasizing quality and quantity in manufacturing.
“Key reforms such as the corporatisation of ordnance factories have significantly boosted production efficiency,” Singh added.
On India’s standing as a global defence exporter, the Defence Minister stressed the importance of reliability. “When an Indian company makes a commitment, it must deliver. Our products should perform exactly as promised that is our quality benchmark,” he stated.
He concluded by affirming the government’s resolve to defend the nation’s sovereignty. “India’s defence industrial growth has given us unmatched strength. There are no limits to what we’ll do to protect our country,” Singh asserted.