Srinagar

 Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday visited the Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar, where he interacted with the armed forces and lauded their decisive role in the successful Operation Sindoor. This marked his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent military response.

Addressing soldiers and civilians, Singh began his speech with a rousing chant of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and paid tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives fighting terrorism, as well as the innocent civilians killed in the Pahalgam attack. “I bow to the supreme sacrifice of our brave jawans and offer prayers for the injured. I also honour the civilians who lost their lives in Pahalgam,” he said.

Singh sharply criticised Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism and its handling of nuclear weapons. He questioned whether such arms were safe in the hands of what he described as an “irresponsible and rogue nation.” Calling on the global community to take notice, Singh stated, “I believe Pakistan's nuclear weapons should come under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).”

Referring to the Pahalgam attack, Singh condemned the killing of innocents based on their religion. “Terrorists killed by looking at people’s dharma. We responded by looking at their karma—that is our Bhartiya dharma,” he said, drawing a moral distinction between Indian retaliation and the motivations of terrorism.

Crediting the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian armed forces, Singh hailed Operation Sindoor as a resounding message against terrorism. “The whole country is proud of what you achieved. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have shown remarkable unity and anger against terrorism and Pakistan. The way you destroyed Pakistani posts across the border, the enemy will not forget,” he asserted.

Describing himself as a messenger of the nation’s gratitude, Singh told the gathering, “I may be the Defence Minister, but today I stand before you as a citizen of India and as a postman carrying the prayers, best wishes, and thanks of the entire country.”

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The Defence Minister also inspected artillery shells fired from across the border and acknowledged the resilience of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. His visit came two days after Prime Minister Modi's stop at the Adampur Air Base, underlining the Centre’s focus on national security and support for the armed forces.