Op Sindoor, Balakot Airstrike & Surgical Strike reflect India’ action to eliminate terrorism

“Operation Sindoor, Balakot Airstrikes and Surgical Strikes weren’t just military operations; they symbolised a decisive shift in the nation’s approach, moving from diplomatic condemnation to proactive action aimed at rooting out terrorism by reaching its very source,” said Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at a Defence Conclave in New Delhi on today.

Reiterating India’s stand on cross-border terrorism, he asserted that any further terrorist acts originating from Pakistan would invite an even stronger response. He emphasised that while India’s cultural ethos favoured dialogue, coexistence and peaceful resolution of disputes, its commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness. He added that since 2014, the ‘shelf life’ of most terrorists had fallen to less than a year, with security forces neutralising them within a year of their taking up arms against India.

On defence preparedness, Shri Rajnath Singh underscored the need to combine ‘hard power’ with ‘soft power’ and called for a shift towards ‘smart power’. “Modern defence strategies must integrate precision-guided weapons and loitering munitions with cost-effective weaponry, human intelligence with artificial intelligence, and advanced systems with low-cost, agile and adaptable technologies to address evolving security challenges,” he said.

Raksha Mantri described Operation Sindoor as a demonstration of India’s growing technological capabilities and the defence forces’ confidence in advanced indigenous systems, including the Akash missile system and BrahMos, alongside other cutting-edge equipment. (UPDATED ON 15TH OCTOBE 2026)