Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a blunt ultimatum to Pakistan, demanding the handover of UN-designated terrorists Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed to India.
His remarks came while addressing naval personnel aboard INS Vikrant, as tensions remain high in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.
“The dangerous game of terrorism that Pakistan has been playing since Independence is over now,” Singh said sternly, underscoring India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism.
Reinforcing India’s commitment to act decisively against cross-border terrorism, Singh warned,
“We will use every method against terror that Pakistan can think of—and even those that it can’t.”
Singh urged Islamabad to “uproot the nurseries of terrorism” operating within its territory, calling it a necessary step in the interest of Pakistan itself.
He described Operation Sindoor—launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack—as a “frontal assault against terrorism.” The operation, which targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), reportedly resulted in over 100 militant deaths and a decisive strategic advantage for India.
“In a short time, we demolished Pakistan’s terror infrastructure and its evil intent,” Singh declared.
The Defence Minister lauded the Indian Navy’s strategic role, saying it kept the Pakistani military pinned down during India’s multi-pronged counter-terror operation.
“The Indian Navy, through its silent service, ensured that the Pakistani Navy remained confined to its shores while our Air Force struck terrorist camps.”
He credited the combined forces for compelling Pakistan to seek international intervention.
“Our strike was so powerful that Pakistan went around pleading to the world to stop India.”
In a final remark, Singh rejected claims by former U.S. President Donald Trump about mediating the May 10 ceasefire.
“Let it be clear—India stopped military operations on its own terms. We neither sought nor accepted mediation,” Singh affirmed.
India’s Operation Sindoor was initiated after 26 Indian citizens were killed in a brutal terror attack in Pahalgam. The precision strikes across the border marked one of India’s most assertive military responses in recent years. With Singh’s latest remarks, the message is loud and clear: India will not hesitate to strike again if terrorism persists.
