Leh. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the armed forces ‘could have done a lot more’ during ‘Operation Sindoor’ after the Pahalgam terror attack but they deliberately opted for a ‘restrained’ and ‘balanced’ response. Singh said the operation in May underlined the capability and discipline of the Indian Army, which neutralized terrorist threats without escalating tensions.
“During Operation Sindoor, the coordination that we saw between our armed forces, the civil administration and the citizens of the border areas was incredible. I express my gratitude to every citizen of Ladakh and the border areas for extending their support to our armed forces,” Defense Minister Singh said after inaugurating 125 infrastructure projects completed by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) in different parts of the country.
Singh said, “This coordination is our identity. It is our mutual bond that gives us a unique identity in the world.” ‘Operation Sindoor’ was launched by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7, aimed at targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This campaign was launched to avenge the attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed and most of those who lost their lives in this attack were tourists.
He said, “Just a few months ago, we saw how in response to the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, our armed forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ and the world knows what they did to the terrorists.” Defense Minister Singh said, “Of course, we could have done a lot more if we wanted, but our forces displayed not only bravery but also restraint and did only what was necessary.”
He emphasized that such a huge operation was possible only because of strong connectivity. “Our armed forces were able to deliver supplies on time. Contact with border areas was also maintained, making Operation Sindoor a historic success,” Singh said. Defense Minister Singh said that better connectivity in border areas is transforming security in many ways and enabling troops to operate more effectively in difficult terrain.
“Today, our troops are standing strong in difficult terrain because they have access to roads, real-time communication systems, satellite support, surveillance networks and logistics connectivity,” he said. Singh said, “Every minute, every second of a soldier deployed on the border is extremely important. Therefore, connectivity should not be limited to just networks, optical fibre, drones and radar, but should be considered the backbone of security.”
The Defense Minister said that if he is able to meet the armed forces in any corner of the country, it is possible only because of the strong communication network and connectivity. He said, “Communication should not be seen only in terms of infrastructure. It is a very broad term. Communication is necessary for peace, harmony and understanding of society.”
He said that the government’s continuous effort has been to strengthen communication and connectivity with all border areas including Ladakh. He said that the Central Government is working with full enthusiasm for the overall development of the border areas. The Defense Minister said, “Our government, our armed forces and organizations like BRO stand with you. We just have to keep strengthening this relationship so that our relationship is not affected by any external element.”
He said that better connectivity is not only strengthening security and infrastructure, but is also giving impetus to economic development. Citing 8.2 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the second quarter of 2025-26, Singh said strong communication and connectivity networks have been a key factor, supported by the government’s pro-growth policies and nationwide reforms.
