“We killed only those who killed innocents”: Rajnath Singh on Operation Sindoor

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday lauded the Indian Armed Forces for the precise and successful execution of Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory military strike on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Singh made it clear that India exercised its right to respond after the Pahalgam massacre that left 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local pony handler, dead.

Addressing a public event during the inauguration of Border Roads Organisation's infrastructure projects, Singh declared, “We killed only those who killed innocent people. No civilian was harmed. The operation was carried out with sensitivity, precision, and complete strategic discipline.”

He reiterated that the Indian Army acted with full responsibility and ensured that no civilian population was affected during the high-stakes military action. “All the designated targets were destroyed exactly as planned,” Singh added, affirming that the military had hit back only at those directly involved in acts of terror against India.

According to Singh, the operation was based on strong intelligence inputs that pointed towards the involvement of cross-border terror outfits in the April 22 Pahalgam attack. He held Pakistan accountable, stating that “India has time and again shown restraint, but we also know how to respond when provoked.”

The defence minister’s remarks come as the Indian government continues to stand firm on its counter-terror strategy, with Operation Sindoor marking a significant military response to ongoing cross-border threats.