New Delhi, June 21: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that Operation Sindoor, India’s latest military response to cross-border terrorism, was executed with such precision and control that it compelled Pakistan to request a ceasefire.
“It was executed in such a way that Pakistan requested for a ceasefire, and only then have we put a pause to the operation. As I have said earlier, Operation Sindoor is not over yet. India is fully prepared to take all kinds of action against terrorism,”
Singh stated during the International Yoga Day celebrations organized by the Indian Army in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir.
He described Operation Sindoor as the natural continuation of the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, underlining India’s unwavering commitment to eliminate terrorism at its roots.
The Northern Command in Udhampur, the key operational base for counterterror operations in Jammu and Kashmir, was the venue for the event, which saw participation from around 2,500 soldiers. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and Northern Army Commander Lt. Gen. Pratik Sharma were also present.
India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, targeting terror and military installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The action followed the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians dead. The swift and high-impact response sparked a four-day military confrontation involving fighter jets, drones, missiles, artillery, and long-range weapons. The military actions paused on May 10, after mutual understanding was reached.
Rajnath Singh said the Indian armed forces demonstrated exceptional restraint, balance, and precision, calling it a reflection of their inner strength attained through yoga.
“Yoga gives clarity to the people in chaos. It is an art, a science, a philosophy, and spirituality. Those who practise yoga in their daily lives have control over their body and mind. It makes us proactive, not reactive,”
he added, referring to the operation as a “shining example” of such self-control.
The Defence Minister also sent a stern warning to Pakistan, stating that continued support for terrorism would invite severe consequences.
“Pakistan wants to weaken India from within, but it should never forget that just like Major Somnath Sharma, Brigadier Mohammad Usman too sacrificed his life for the unity and integrity of the country,”
he said, recalling two of India’s wartime heroes from the 1947–48 India-Pakistan War.
Major Somnath Sharma was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, and Brigadier Usman, the Maha Vir Chakra—India’s highest and second-highest wartime gallantry awards.