(Image source from: x.com/DefenceMinIndia)
On Thursday morning, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made his way to Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, marking his first trip to the region since India's Operation Sindoor, a military assault aimed at terrorist positions in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that occurred on April 22. During his visit, the Defence Minister assessed the prevailing security situation as well as the preparedness of the Indian Armed Forces. He also took the opportunity to visit the 15 Corps Headquarters of the Army, where he engaged with military personnel. Accompanying Mr. Singh was the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha. Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been at the Adampur air base in Punjab, where he spoke with soldiers.
The Adampur air station was a target of Pakistan's attack attempts on the night of May 9 and 10, following India's Operation Sindoor. Pakistan claimed that its hypersonic missiles launched from JF-17 fighter aircraft damaged India's S-400 air defense system located in Adampur, a statement that Indian officials have firmly disputed. From the Adampur Air Force base, PM Modi conveyed a powerful message, asserting, "Our intent is clear...if there is another attack, India will respond. We witnessed this response following the terror strike on an Army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, in 2016, and the Balakot airstrikes that followed the 2019 Pulwama attack. Operation Sindoor has established a new norm," he stated, underlining that this approach will be a lasting policy of the Indian government to take "decisive action against terrorism supported by states targeting its citizens."
In his remarks, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude towards the armed forces for protecting the nation from both Pakistan's assaults and various terrorist incidents throughout history. In a swift operation, India conducted 24 missile strikes within 25 minutes across nine different sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of 100 terrorists. Government officials indicated that this operation targeted the "snake's head" rather than just the foot soldiers, highlighting a new strategy for addressing terrorism within Pakistan. Since the initiation of Operation Sindoor, tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated. India has successfully thwarted numerous drone and missile attacks launched by Pakistan against its military installations in regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Punjab. While Pakistan called for a ceasefire by Sunday evening, it quickly breached the agreement within hours. Nevertheless, the border has remained relatively calm since that incident.
