Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 15: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Srinagar air base on Thursday, where he interacted with Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel and expressed appreciation for their bravery during Operation Sindoor.
Accompanied by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Defence Minister was warmly welcomed with patriotic chants of “Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” by the jawans.
Later, Singh visited Badami Bagh Cantonment where he personally interacted with soldiers, shaking hands and patting shoulders to acknowledge their courage and dedication during recent military operations.
Singh also inspected Pakistani shells recovered after cross-border shelling that followed India’s air strikes on nine terror launchpads under Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
Lauding the soldiers’ performance, Singh declared:
“The way you destroyed Pakistani chowkis and bunkers across the border, I believe the enemy will never be able to forget Operation Sindoor.”
He also saluted the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their strong reaction against Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack, saying he came to Srinagar to “feel the energy that destroyed the enemies.”
In a strongly worded statement, Singh raised concerns over Pakistan’s nuclear irresponsibility, questioning the safety of its nuclear arsenal.
“Today, from the land of Srinagar, I want to raise this question—are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such an irresponsible and rogue nation?”
“I believe Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should be placed under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” he added.
Operation Sindoor Overview:
- Launched by India on May 7 in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
- Targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
- Over 100 terrorists killed, belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
- Indian strikes included hits on radar installations, communication hubs, and 11 airbases in Pakistan.
- Pakistan responded with cross-border shelling and drone attacks.
- On May 10, a ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan was announced.