PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, CDS General Anil Chauhan and the three service chiefs against the backdrop of the ongoing ‘Operation Sindoor’. Apart from discussing the future course, PM Modi is believed to have discussed the continuous violation of the ceasefire by Pakistan in the sectors along the Line of Control and the border.

 

The PM’s engagement with military commanders and strategists also involved an extensive interaction with veterans. Those who took part in the discussions included former Air Force chiefs, Army chiefs, and Navy chiefs, sources said. Earlier, the Indian Armed Forces briefed media persons about the violation of airspace by Pakistan on Thursday night and the forceful response given by the Indian side. The interaction, they added, focussed on the current situation. The veterans’ community has been generally appreciative of the Government’s firm response to Pakistan following the horrific gunning down of 26 people, mostly tourists, by terrorists linked to the neighbouring country on April 22 in Pahalgam. The conflict with Pakistan has intensified with the Armed Forces responding proportionately and adequately to Pakistani attempts to target Indian installations on the intervening night of May 8 and 9. Pakistan violated Indian airspace to target the military installations, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said at a briefing.

 

She said Pakistan sent 300-400 drones in 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek to target Indian military installations and the drones were shot down by the Indian military. Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday carried out a comprehensive review of the national security scenario with the top military leadership, a day after Pakistan’s attempts to target Indian military installations were repelled. Every aspect of the evolving security situation was discussed in the meeting. The meeting was attended by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. India last night neutralised Pakistan military’s attempt to hit military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and some other locations with missiles and drones. “Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation along the western border and operational preparedness of the Indian armed forces,” a Defence Ministry spokesperson said.