'Not A Strike, A Statement': Rajnath Singh Lauds Operation Sindoor, Says Echo Of Indian Army’s Might Reached Rawalpindi

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday, May 11, praised the Indian Armed Forces for their "valour, precision, and restraint" during Operation Sindoor, stating that the operation sent a powerful message across the border and proved India’s strategic resolve against terrorism. Speaking via video conference at the inauguration of a BrahMos missile production facility in Lucknow, Singh declared that the Army’s strength had “echoed in Rawalpindi,” the headquarters of the Pakistani military.

The Defence Minister's remarks come just a day after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire, following several days of high tensions and cross-border strikes. Operation Sindoor was launched in retaliation to the recent Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives.

'Terrorists and Their Masters Will Find No Haven': Singh

Calling Operation Sindoor a symbolic as well as strategic milestone, Rajnath Singh said that India’s response was carefully calibrated to avoid civilian casualties in Pakistan, even as it targeted critical terrorist and military infrastructure. “The terrorist groups that attacked the forehead of Mother India and took away the sindoor of so many families have been brought to justice,” Singh added. “This operation is not just military, it represents our political and social willpower too.”

He also reiterated India’s longstanding policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and pointed to a consistent pattern of retaliatory actions, from the surgical strikes after Uri to the Balakot airstrikes post-Pulwama. “Now, after the Pahalgam attack, we’ve shown again that no safe zone exists for those who carry out terror attacks on Indian soil,” he said.

BrahMos Was Used in Operation Sindoor

Singh confirmed that the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was used during Operation Sindoor, though he stopped short of disclosing exact targets. “BrahMos is not just a weapon, it is a statement of our strength and our deterrent capability,” he said. “The enemy understands now that our response will be swift, precise, and deeply felt even in Rawalpindi.”

The BrahMos production unit inaugurated in Lucknow is part of India’s broader push to indigenize defence capabilities. With a projected capacity of 80 to 100 missiles annually, the Rs 300 crore facility is seen as a major step in boosting India’s strike readiness.

The Defence Minister’s remarks were widely interpreted as both a tribute to the armed forces and a warning to adversaries. “We struck military bases across Pakistan, not just near the border. The world saw how India acted decisively, with courage and compassion,” Singh concluded.