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NE NEWS SERVICE
BHUJ, MAY 16
A day after visiting Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar where he also addressed the military personnel, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flew to the Air Force Station in Bhuj and interacted with the soldiers. In a message of strength, he posed with the military personnel for a group picture and had two of India’s lethal weapons in the background – Pechora surface-to-air missile system and the Jaguar aircraft.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday commended the effective role played by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Operation Sindoor which is being appreciated by the world. Lauding the air warriors for eliminating the terror camps in Pakistan and PoK in just 23 minutes, he said “when missiles were dropped inside the enemy territory, the world heard the echoes of India’s valour and might”. He added that IAF spearheaded this campaign against terrorism, and during the operation, it not only dominated the enemy, but decimated them.
He said he felt proud to be present at the place, adding that the region has been “witness to India’s victory against Pakistan” in 1965, 1971 and now again this year.
Singh’s trip to Gujarat gains further significance as the state shares a 508-kilometre-long border with Pakistan and it was one of the targets Islamabad tried to struck using drones during the four-day military conflict with India. However, the threat was successfully thwarted by India’s air defence systems.
Referring to the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, the defence minister said, “Bhuj was witness to our victory against Pakistan in 1965, and today again it has been witness to our victory against Pakistan… I feel proud to be present here.”
Singh also highlighted India’s military prowess and said that “just 23 minutes were enough for the Indian Air Force to crush terrorism being nurtured in Pakistan”.
Gujarat, which shares a 508-kilometre border with Pakistan, was among the states targeted by Pakistani drones and airstrikes during the recent four-day conflict. Pakistan reportedly attacked Bhuj with drones and missiles, but the Indian armed forces successfully neutralised the threat.
He issued a clear warning against Pakistan’s alleged plans to fund terrorism using taxpayers’ money and international aid. Addressing troops at a military base in Bhuj, Rajnath Singh claimed that the Pakistan government intended to give Rs 14 crore to Masood Azhar, the UN-designated terrorist and chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
“Pakistan will spend tax collected from citizens to give Rs 14 crore to Masood Azhar, the head of the Jaish terrorist organisation, even though he is a UN-designated terrorist,” Rajnath Singh said.
Addressing the soldiers, the Defence Minister further stated that Pakistan will be using funds expected from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to rebuild terrorist infrastructure destroyed during Operation Sindoor — India’s military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, carried out by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
“The Pakistan government has also said it will give financial assistance to rebuild terror infrastructure of Lashkar and Jaish, in Muridke and Bahawalpur,” Rajnath Singh added.
The Defence Minister’s remarks come amid India’s strong objections to the IMF’s proposed $2.3 billion financial bailout to Pakistan. New Delhi has expressed concerns that the money could be misused to support terror networks.
“Any financial assistance to Pakistan is funding terror activities. The IMF should reconsider its decision,” Rajnath Singh stated. “The IMF’s aid to Pakistan is a form of indirect funding to terror.”
Despite India abstaining from the vote, the IMF proposal was passed.
Last week, India had raised concerns that the aid could enable Pakistan to rebuild and support groups like JeM and LeT, which have been responsible for deadly attacks on Indian soil, including the 2019 Pulwama and 2016 Uri strikes.
Earlier, Rajnath Singh said that Operation Sindoor was just a trailer and the Indian armed forces will show the full picture at the right time.
“Operation Sindoor isn’t over. What the world saw was just a trailer, and the Indian armed forces will show the full picture when the right time comes,” Defence Minister Singh told the air warriors and security forces at the IAF airbase in Gujarat’s Bhuj.
Lambasting Pakistan for nurturing terror factories on its soil, the Defence Minister said that the rogue nation was forced to realise the power of BrahMos missile.
“Just like the way, any habitual offender or a criminal with past antecedents is kept under watch, we have put Pakistan under probation. The ceasefire is not a cessation of action. If Pakistan doesn’t mend its ways and engages in misadventures again, our forces will teach it a firm lesson. Again!” he said.
Located close to the India-Pakistan border, Bhuj Air Force Station has long been a vital forward base, playing a crucial role in India’s western defence posture.
Reiterating the Government’s commitment to continuously equip the Armed Forces with latest weapons/platforms and modern infrastructure, Rajnath Singh stated a strong nation respects its military and provides it with resources, technology and every support. He highlighted that, earlier, India was heavily dependent on imports, but today it is indigenously manufacturing equipment such as artillery systems, radar systems, missile shields, drones and counter drones. “We are becoming exporters from importers; and this is just the beginning,” he said.
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and other senior IAF officials were present on the occasion.
