India’s Targeted Strikes in PoK Reflect a New Security Posture: Rajnath Singh Lauds Precision, Civilian Safety
In a move that underscores India’s shifting military doctrine and growing emphasis on targeted, calibrated responses, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday praised the Indian armed forces for their “measured” and “non-escalatory” precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes, he stated, were aimed exclusively at those responsible for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of several Indian security personnel.
Speaking at the inauguration of 50 new infrastructure projects undertaken by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) across six states and two Union Territories, Singh rallied the audience with chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai”, underscoring the nationalist fervor that often accompanies India’s military assertions. But beyond the patriotic symbolism lay a clear message: India’s retaliation was neither rash nor indiscriminate. “We only killed those who killed our innocents,” Singh declared, invoking a metaphor from the Ramayana to suggest moral clarity and restraint—likening the operation to Lord Hanuman’s destruction of the Ashok Vatika in Lanka, where the dictum was simple: “jin mohi mara, tin mohi maare” (I strike only those who struck me).
According to official sources, the strikes destroyed at least nine terror training camps affiliated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba, both of which have long operated with impunity in Pakistan and PoK. The operation, codenamed “Operation Sindoor,” lasted approximately 25 minutes and involved coordinated missile and drone assaults, carefully timed and executed in the early hours to ensure minimal disruption to civilian life.
What marks a departure in India’s approach is the deliberate messaging around precision and proportionality. Singh was categorical in asserting that the armed forces went out of their way to avoid civilian casualties. “We have shown sensitivity by not allowing any civilian population to be affected at all,” he said, highlighting the evolution of India’s engagement strategy — from the high-risk Balakot airstrikes of 2019 to a more surgical, intelligence-led response model.
These developments unfold against the backdrop of escalating regional tensions and growing scrutiny from the international community over state responses to terrorism. Singh’s statements appear designed not only for domestic audiences but also for a global one — a signaling of India’s capability and restraint. At a time when the rules of international engagement are increasingly blurred by hybrid warfare, cyber threats, and non-state actors, India’s defense establishment is keen to project a mature, law-abiding posture.
“India has exercised its Right to Respond,” Singh affirmed, positioning the country’s actions within the framework of international norms on self-defense. His emphasis on a “thoughtful and measured” response is significant — it aligns with India’s broader diplomatic strategy of isolating Pakistan on the issue of cross-border terrorism, while also signaling that inaction will not be the default.
With these strikes, New Delhi has reaffirmed its red lines — especially in a volatile post-370 Kashmir landscape where militancy, disinformation, and proxy warfare remain persistent threats. It also reflects a broader institutional confidence in the Indian military’s technical prowess and intelligence capabilities, which have been steadily modernized over the past decade.
As Rajnath Singh saluted the bravery of the Indian armed forces, the underlying message was one of controlled resolve. India, he implied, no longer responds with either silence or reckless aggression. Instead, it responds with clarity — and precision.
This report is auto-generated from a syndicated news feed. For factual verification, refer to official sources.
#IndiaStrikes #DefencePolicy #Terrorism #PoK #RajnathSingh
