Latest in India vs Pak: Rajnath Singh hails Operation Sindoor, says world has yet again seen India’s capabilities in fight against terrorism

India-Pak News: Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday praised the Indian Army for delivering justice to anti-India and terrorist groups through Operation Sindoor.

Addressing a virtual event to inaugurate a BrahMos missile production unit in Lucknow, Singh said the Indian military responded to Pakistan’s provocations with courage and restraint, sending a strong message by targeting several of its military bases.

He described Operation Sindoor as more than just a military mission — calling it a symbol of India’s political, social, and strategic resolve to combat terrorism. “It reflects the nation’s firm will to fight back against those who seek to harm us,” he said. Singh added that the entire nation stands in gratitude to the armed forces.

“Operation Sindoor is not just a military exercise. It symbolises India’s political, social, and strategic willpower. It demonstrates our unshakeable resolve against terrorism and highlights the strength of our armed forces,” Singh said, adding, “We’ve made it clear that whenever India acts against terrorism, even territories across the border won’t remain safe for those who sponsor terror.”

The defence minister also spoke of the “double-engine government’s” development push across Uttar Pradesh, saying the state is witnessing growth in every sector — from sports and agriculture to technology, tourism, policing, and infrastructure. “Our focus and commitment to the progress of both Uttar Pradesh and India is becoming even stronger,” he said.

Amid India-Pak tensions, BrahMos facility inaugurated in Lucknow

These statements came as Singh virtually inaugurated the BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow — a major milestone in India’s push for indigenous defence production under the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor.

Set up at a cost of Rs 300 crore, the facility is designed for missile production, testing, integration, and manufacturing of aerospace-grade components. The Ministry of Defence described the unit as “a major step toward ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and a strategic boost to regional industrial growth.”

According to the UP government, the unit will manufacture the BrahMos missile — one of the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles with a range of 290–400 km and top speeds of Mach 2.8. Developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India and Russia, the missile can be launched from land, sea, or air, and uses a “fire and forget” system.

The Lucknow facility, built in just three-and-a-half years, spans 80 hectares of land provided free of cost by the state. It is one of six key nodes of the Defence Industrial Corridor announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018. The others include Kanpur, Aligarh, Agra, Jhansi, and Chitrakoot. Uttar Pradesh is the second state after Tamil Nadu to set up such a corridor to promote defence manufacturing.

Indo-Pak Tensions: Tensions ease along LoC, but concerns remain

Meanwhile, a fragile calm has returned to the Kashmir Valley. For the first time in six days, the region experienced a quiet night with no sounds of missiles or drone activity. “There was no ceasefire violation reported from any sector along the Line of Control in Kashmir after 11 pm on Saturday,” officials in Srinagar told PTI.

Local residents, like Shahjahan Dar of Rawalpora, welcomed the silence. “It’s been days since we’ve slept peacefully. We thank the Almighty and everyone who helped bring this to an end,” he said.

This sense of relief followed four days of intense military exchanges — including missile strikes, drone incursions, and artillery shelling — after which India on  Pakistan’s request agreed to halt all military operations across land, air, and sea from the evening of May 10.

However, violations soon followed. Pakistani drones were reportedly spotted in parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Gujarat, prompting swift Indian interceptions. India termed the activity a ceasefire breach and warned of a “firm and proportionate response.” In a press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said India is taking “very, very serious notice of these violations.”

Tensions have remained high between India and Pakistan since India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7 in response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. The operation aimed to destroy seven terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, with all subsequent retaliatory actions following Pakistani offensives also carried out under this mission.