Exercising restraint, but all geared up to protect sovereignty: Rajnath

Hours before Pakistan climbed up the escalatory ladder in the ongoing conflict with India by striking multiple locations across north India, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said no limit could deter the country from the path of safeguarding its sovereignty.

“No limit can deter us from protecting India’s sovereignty. We are fully prepared for responsive retaliations like Operation Sindoor,” said Singh, describing Indian military precision strikes on nine targets in Pakistan and PoK last night as “unimaginable and praiseworthy”.

Singh said India was fully prepared for any escalation. The remarks followed Defence Ministry’s official statement confirming thwarting of Pakistan attempts to engage military targets at 15 Indian locations and the neutralisation of air defence system in Lahore.

Singh today again said in Operation Sindoor, nine terror camps were destroyed in Pakistan and PoK and a considerable number of terrorists were killed. The Defence Minister said India was conscious of its role as a responsible nation exercising great restraint and believes in resolving issues through dialogue. “But if attempts are made to take advantage of this restraint, they will face strong and efficient action,” he said.

Singh was addressing the National Quality Conclave organised by the Department of Defence Production and Quality Assurance Organisation.

The minister said Operation Sindoor was successfully executed because of India’s formidable and professionally-trained armed forces equipped with high-quality equipment.

He said the precision with which Indian military executed the operation without harming any “innocent civilians and with minimum collateral damage” was unimaginable and a matter of great pride for the nation.

India