Operation Sindoor: Rajnath Singh Confirms 100 Terrorists Killed in Pakistan Strikes

Operation Sindoor: In a dramatic escalation of tensions along the Line of Control, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed that Operation Sindoor—India’s decisive military response to terror threats—remains ongoing, even as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh revealed during an all-party meeting that approximately 100 terrorists were killed in cross-border strikes on Pakistani terror camps on Wednesday.

This marks the first official acknowledgment of the death toll since India launched precision strikes in retaliation to an attempted aerial offensive by Pakistan.

“The Defence Minister informed leaders that this was an ongoing operation, hence can’t give a technical briefing,” Rijiju told reporters after the all-party meeting.

Operation Sindoor: High-Precision Strikes, National Resolve

Operation Sindoor, described by officials as a calibrated and multi-domain military response, targeted nine terrorist hideouts deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. According to Defence Minister Singh, the strikes were “precise and devastating,” resulting in the elimination of nearly 100 operatives linked to major terror outfits.

Sources within the government indicated that these hideouts were linked to groups responsible for repeated infiltrations and terror plots in Kashmir and beyond. Singh made it clear that while India does not wish to escalate tensions, any retaliatory action from Pakistan would be met with “a firm and equal response.”

“We don’t form the government just to rule,” Singh reportedly said, underlining the government’s responsibility to safeguard national integrity and civilian lives.

Air Defence Systems in Lahore Destroyed

In a further development on Thursday morning, Indian Armed Forces targeted and neutralized key air defence systems in Lahore and other locations in Pakistan. The Defence Ministry confirmed that these operations were a direct response to Pakistan’s failed attempt to hit 15 Indian military targets using missiles and drones.

“It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised,” a statement said.

India’s S-400 Sudarshan Chakra air defence systems successfully intercepted incoming threats, while Integrated Counter-UAS Grids prevented damage to sensitive installations across Punjab, Jammu, and western India.

Military targets in locations including Awantipura, Pathankot, Ludhiana, and Bhuj were among those secured during Pakistan’s attempted offensive on the night of May 7.

Cross-Border Artillery Shelling: Civilian Toll Rises

In a brutal counter by Pakistan, heavy shelling was reported along the Line of Control in the Poonch-Rajouri sectors, killing 15 Indian civilians, government sources said. Mortar and heavy-calibre artillery fire continued throughout the night in sectors like Baramulla, Uri, and Mendhar.

Despite the mounting tensions, Indian leadership remains resolute. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, addressing a press briefing alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, stressed:

“It is not our intention to escalate the situation. However, if there are military attacks on us, it will be met with a very, very firm response.”

All-Party Support: National Unity Amid Crisis

The all-party meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, saw rare unanimity across political lines. Leaders from Congress, AAP, Samajwadi Party, and other opposition parties expressed full support to the Indian Armed Forces and the government’s handling of Operation Sindoor.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and AAP representatives, however, questioned the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the high-stakes meeting. In response, a message from the PM was conveyed: “Every Indian citizen needs to stand united.”

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi echoed this sentiment:

“We are here together and, from the beginning, we have been with the government.”

Operation Sindoor: Strategic Message to the World

India’s Operation Sindoor not only aimed at eliminating terror infrastructure but also sent a powerful strategic message. The precise strikes, combined with diplomatic backing and all-party political consensus, underscore India’s capacity and will to act decisively against cross-border terrorism.

The name “Sindoor,” a symbol of sacrifice and protection in Indian culture, reflects the spirit of the mission—protecting the sovereignty of the nation and honouring the fallen.

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