MAY 30: Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, addressing naval personnel aboard INS Vikrant off the Goa coast on May 30, 2025, declared Operation Sindoor as a bold and strategic assault on terrorism. He cautioned Pakistan that any further provocation or “evil” actions will be met with the full firepower of the Indian Navy.
“Operation Sindoor is not merely a military maneuver—it is India’s frontal attack on terrorism. Should Pakistan attempt anything unethical, it will face severe consequences,” the Raksha Mantri asserted. He commended the Indian Navy’s silent yet impactful role, stating that the Carrier Battle Group’s forward posture prevented the Pakistani Navy from leaving its shores during the operation.
He reaffirmed India’s right to take decisive action against terrorism emanating from across the border and emphasized that India is prepared to respond by land, sea, or air. “Anti-India activities continue openly from Pakistani soil. India will act wherever necessary to protect its citizens,” he said.
Calling out Pakistan’s duplicity, Shri Rajnath Singh said, “If Pakistan is serious about talks, it must first hand over UN-designated terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar.” He highlighted the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana as a significant step in bringing perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks to justice, stressing that similar action must follow.
Describing the Navy’s role in Operation Sindoor as exemplary, the Defence Minister detailed how Indian warships conducted missile and torpedo firings just 96 hours after the Pahalgam terror attack, sending a strong deterrent signal. The Navy’s dominance in the Arabian Sea ensured Pakistan remained confined near its Makran Coast.
“India’s response was so effective that Pakistan requested a halt. We paused military operations on our terms,” Singh declared, adding that the operation is not over, only paused. He also reaffirmed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s doctrine that any terror attack on Indian soil will be treated as an act of war.
Praising the synergy among the armed forces, ministries, and intelligence agencies, Shri Rajnath Singh noted that Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s readiness, precision, and resolve. He urged the Navy to maintain high operational preparedness and stated that the new INS Vikrant, like its historic predecessor in 1961, now stands as a symbol of India’s strength and resolve in combating terrorism.