Dubbing Pakistan as the “father of global terrorism”, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that “the day is not far when the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will become a part of India again”.
Lambasting Pakistan for orchestrating the Pahalgam terror attack, Singh said it attempted to break India through cross-border terrorism.
Initiating the debate in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday on India’s strong, successful, and decisive Operation Sindoor in response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Singh said that Pakistan has always harboured terrorists, and Pahalgam is just one example of the long list of crimes committed by Pakistan-backed terrorists. “Today, India is capable of going to the root of terrorism and uprooting it,” the Defence Minister said, adding that the government has adopted a new strategy to strengthen national security and, at the same time, effectively deal with terrorism.
Describing Operation Sindoor as a demonstration of India’s military capability, national resolve, morality, and political acumen, Singh reiterated that it has only been halted, and not ended, and if Pakistan again tries to carry out any nefarious act, India is fully prepared for an even more intense and decisive action. “Pakistan and anyone who tries to cast an evil eye must remember that the Indian Armed Forces possess the strength and capability to deal with every situation,” he said.
Calling for a permanent solution to terrorism and terming the menace an epidemic-destined to perish, but not one that can be left to die its own death-Singh said that no religious, ideological, or political reason can justify terrorism as nothing can be achieved through bloodshed and violence.
Describing Pakistan as a nursery of terrorism that must not be nourished, the Defence Minister called upon the international community to stop funding it. He said that funding Pakistan is equivalent to funding the infrastructure of terrorism. On Pakistan’s appointment as Vice-Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee by the United Nations Security Council, the Defence Minister said the decision was similar to “making the cat guarding the milk”.
Reiterating that Pakistan should seek India’s help if it is unable to take effective action against terrorism, he said, “Indian Armed Forces are capable of taking effective action against terrorism on either side of the border. Pakistan witnessed it during Operation Sindoor, but it is stubborn. Therefore, the world must put every kind of strategic, diplomatic, and economic pressure on Pakistan to end terrorism.”
Congratulating the Indian Army and other security forces for neutralising three TRF terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir on Monday, the Defence Minister said that forensic analysis of the weapons carried by the terrorists makes it clear that they were used during the Pahalgam attack. He also said that the government has allowed emergency procurement to strengthen the Armed Forces to deal with any unforeseen situation.