Rajnath flags precision of Operation Sindoor strikes: Have only struck those who killed innocents

On early Wednesday morning, between 1:05 a.m. and 1:30 a.m., India carried out ‘Operation Sindoor’, which, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, targeted the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad. This action was taken “by Indian armed forces to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families,” said Colonel Sofiya Qureshi during the media briefing held 10 hours after the operation.

Referring to ‘Operation Sindoor’ at the BSF event on Wednesday evening, Singh lauded the Indian Army for dismantling terror training camps with determined resolve and minimal collateral damage, asserting India’s right to respond in a calibrated and responsible manner.

सेना को संपूर्ण सम्बल प्रदान करने के लिए प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी जी को भी साधुवाद देता हूं। हमने हनुमान जी के उस आदर्श का पालन किया है, जो उन्होंने अशोक वाटिका उजाड़ते समय किया था ‘‘जिन मोहि मारा, तिन मोहि मारे’’अर्थात केवल उन्हीं को मारा जिन्होंने हमारे मासूमों को मारा:…

— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) May 7, 2025

“Our Indian soldiers have created a new chapter in history by displaying extraordinary courage and valor. Friends, the Indian Army carried out the operation with precision, alertness, and sensitivity. The objectives we had set were achieved with accuracy and within the planned time frame. Our forces showed great sensitivity by ensuring that no civilian or civilian population was affected,” he said, reiterating the government’s stand that it has demonstrated considerable restraint in its response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Singh quoted from the Ramcharitmanas to cite the example of Lord Hanuman and what he said before destroying Ashok Vatika while searching for Sita, who was abducted and imprisoned by Raavan. “Mitron, humne Hanuman ji ke adarsh ka paalan kiya hai. Unhone jo Ashok Vatika ujaadte samay kiya tha — jinh mohi maara tinh main maare. Humne keval unhi ko maara jinhone humare masoomon ko maara (Friends, we have followed the ideals of Lord Hanuman. Just as he said during the destruction of Ashok Vatika — ‘I only struck those who attacked me’ — we too have targeted only those who harmed our innocent people),” he added.

He further said, “India has exercised its right to respond by replying to this attack on our soil. This operation was carried out with careful thought and a well-planned strategy. With the aim of crushing the morale of terrorists, the operation was limited strictly to their camps and infrastructure. I bow to our brave forces.”

On Wednesday, during its first disclosure of details under ‘Operation Sindoor’, Indian officials had underlined that “no military establishments were targeted,” but that the Indian armed forces are fully prepared to respond to “Pakistani misadventures, if any, that will escalate the situation.”