Defence minister Rajnath Singh, on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, issued a strong warning to Pakistan, saying that every “misadventure” by the neighbouring country would invite a response “beyond their imagination”.
Event Context
Addressing a gathering in Dras on Sunday, Singh also ruled out any dialogue with Pakistan except on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Team Analysis
“There will be no talks with Pakistan other than on PoK, a part of India that was illegally occupied,” the defence minister said, reiterating the Centre’s long-standing position on the issue.
The minister said India is building data centres while Pakistan is creating “radical centres”, drawing a sharp contrast between the two countries.
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The defence minister’s remarks came as the nation marked Kargil Vijay Diwas, commemorating India’s victory in the 1999 Kargil War and paying tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives in the conflict.
Rajnath Singh said India’s armed forces have always had the capability to defend the country, but what was missing in the past was political will.
“It is not that our armed forces lacked capability in the past. They were powerful then as well. The only thing that was lacking was political will. From this platform, I want to assure you that there is no shortage of political will in the Central Government, nor will there be in the future…We know that as long as you are guarding our borders and protecting the nation, no one will have the courage to cast an evil eye on India,” Singh said.
“The time has passed when those in Delhi did not prioritize the armed forces. Today, there is a government in Delhi that gives the armed forces the freedom to take decisive action in the interest of India’s security,” he added.
Invoking the spirit of the Kargil War, Rajnath Singh recalled Captain Vikram Batra’s iconic slogan “Yeh Dil Maange More”, saying it reflected the resolve and courage of Indian soldiers.
“Captain Vikram Batra said, ‘Yeh Dil Maange More’. That is the nature of our soldiers. The whole world should understand this, and our neighbour should also understand this,” the defence minister said.
Match Outlook
Referring to Operation Sindoor, Singh said the operation had demonstrated the consequences for those who support or indulge in terrorism. “Operation Sindoor showed what will be the fate of those who indulge in terrorism,” news agency PTI quoted him as saying.
