India showed restraint during Operation Sindoor despite capacity for more, says Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said India had the capability to inflict far greater damage during Operation Sindoor, its military response to terror attacks from Pakistan, but chose to act with restraint. Speaking at the inaugural plenary of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi, Singh said the operation demonstrated India's military strength, discipline, and a firm recalibration of its stance on Pakistan and terrorism.

"You saw how first we destroyed the terrorist hideouts and then the enemy's airbases. We could have done even more, but with power must also come restraint," Singh said, addressing the audience. "We have presented a remarkable example before the world, of strength combined with coordination. We could have done more, but we exercised restraint."

Launched on May 7, Operation Sindoor was India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed several soldiers. The operation reportedly led to the elimination of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The strikes, coordinated across multiple sectors, targeted radar systems, airfields, and communication hubs across 11 Pakistani airbases.


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Following the Indian offensive, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling and drone incursions along the Line of Control and other border areas in Jammu and Kashmir. However, hostilities ceased with a mutual understanding announced on May 10.

Singh credited India's indigenisation drive under the Make in India programme for the effectiveness of the operation. "Make in India is an essential component of India's National Security. If we did not have this capability, India's forces would not have been able to take such effective action against terrorism from lower Pakistan to PoK," he said.

Reaffirming India's position on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Singh said the country had redefined its approach to dialogue with its western neighbour. "We have redesigned and redefined India's stance against terrorism. We have recalibrated our engagements and scope of dialogue with Pakistan. From now on, whenever talks happen, they will only be about terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). There will be no discussion with Pakistan on any other issue."

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The Defence Minister also reiterated India’s emotional and cultural bond with the people of PoK, expressing hope for their return to the Indian fold.

"The people of PoK are our own. They are part of our family. We are fully committed to the Prime Minister's vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'. We firmly believe that our brothers, who are today geographically and politically separated from us, will one day surely return to the Indian mainstream, with self-respect and of their own free will," Singh said.

"I know that most of the people there feel a connection with India. There are only a handful who have been misled. India has always believed in connecting hearts, and we believe that by walking the path of love, unity, and truth, the day is not far when our own PoK will return and declare: I am Indian, and I have come back," he added.