If Pak not able to take action against terrorism, India can help: Rajnath

 

 

DEFENCE Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said if Pakistan cannot take action against terrorism on its soil, India is ready to help the neighbouring country as Indian forces are capable of fighting terror on the other side of the border as well. Initiating a special discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Rajya Sabha, Singh said three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack have been eliminated by Indian forces. He further said that Operation Sindoor – India’s response to the Pahalgam attack -- has been halted, and can be resumed anytime if Pakistan indulges in terror activities in India again.

 

“India wants terrorism to end in the whole world, including Pakistan... I had advised Pakistan earlier as well, and today I want to say again, that if you are unable to take effective action against terrorism in Pakistan, take India’s help. India’s forces are capable of taking effective action against terrorism this side of the border, as well as on the other side. Pakistan has already witnessed this during Operation Sindoor,” he said. “If Pakistan commits any terror incidents in future, we will relaunch Operation Sindoor without hesitation,” he said. “Our vision is that Operation Sindoor should carry on continuously. There can be a comma but no full stop,” he stressed. The Defence Minister stressed that no religious, ideological, or political reason can justify terrorism.

 

He said Home Minister Amit Shah has provided details of the joint operation by the forces in the Lok Sabha. Singh said post the Pahalgam attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with the service chiefs, and gave them free hand to use their wisdom, strategic understanding and regional security situation to decide on the response. He said the military leadership also showed maturity, and stressed that India’s response - Operation Sindoor - was aimed at giving a clear message that India will take strong action and go to any extent against terror. Singh said Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) urged India to stop the hostilities, and India accepted it on the condition that the operation would be suspended, not terminated. “If Pakistan commits any terror incidents in future, we will relaunch Operation Sindoor without hesitation,” he said.

 

“Our vision is that Operation Sindoor should carry on continuously. There can be a comma but no full stop,” he said. While expressing surprise over questions raised by some Opposition leaders over getting back Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), Singh said, “I am surprised at this demand, because when they were in power, they did just the opposite”. “It has always been the stand of the Bharatiya Janata Party that the day is not far when the people of PoK will have the privilege of becoming a part of the Indian governance system,” he said. He said the forces achieved the goals set under the operation. “Through Operation Sindoor, we have given a clear message, India can go to any extent against terrorism,” he said. Singh appealed to the international community to stop funding for Pakistan, stating that a major portion goes into funding terror activities.