"India was ready for long war against Pakistan during Operation Sindoor" says Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday asserted that India was fully prepared for a prolonged conflict with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, and that the mission was halted voluntarily on India’s own terms.
Speaking at the ANI National Security Summit 2.0, Singh described Pakistan as the epicentre of international terrorism and stressed the need to eliminate its ideological and political roots.
He said the operation involved precise targeting of those responsible for attacks on India, adding that the decision to stop was not due to any limitation in capability. According to him, India had the capacity and readiness to sustain a long war if required.
The defence minister highlighted that India’s armed forces continue to strengthen their capabilities, including maintaining surge capacity to respond effectively in times of sudden need.
Calling Operation Sindoor a “turning point,” Singh said it demonstrated that India would no longer rely solely on diplomatic responses to terrorism. He credited Narendra Modi for a zero-tolerance policy, asserting that no terrorist activity would be tolerated under any circumstances.
Singh further stated that terrorism is not just an anti-national act but a multi-dimensional threat that must be tackled at operational, ideological, and political levels. He compared its roots to the mythical idea of regenerative power, stressing the importance of eliminating the source that sustains it.
Criticising Pakistan, he said that while India has emerged as a global leader in Information Technology, Pakistan is widely viewed as a hub of “International Terrorism.” He also revealed that India faced nuclear threats during the operation but did not succumb to what he termed a bluff.
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, 2025, in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, most of them tourists.
