Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday (7th December) said that the Indian armed forces showed remarkable discipline and control during Operation Sindoor, which was launched earlier this year after the Pahalgam terror attack. He said that the forces “could have done much more” if they wanted, but they chose a careful and measured response to avoid unnecessary escalation.
The Defence Minister was speaking at an event in Ladakh where he inaugurated 125 new infrastructure projects completed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in different parts of the country. He praised the teamwork seen during Operation Sindoor and said that the coordination between the armed forces, civil authorities, and local citizens in the border areas played a major role in the success of the operation. He thanked the people of Ladakh and other border regions for supporting the armed forces during the tense situation.
#WATCH | Leh, Ladakh | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, "When our armed forces conducted Operation Sindoor in response to the terror attacks carried out in Pahalgam, we saw what they did to the terrorists. Though we could have done a lot, our forces showed not just valour,… pic.twitter.com/ucCtCHeqX8
— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2025
Operation Sindoor was carried out on 7th May by the Indian armed forces to destroy terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was launched in retaliation for the 22nd April terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, including several tourists.
Rajnath Singh said that the action taken by the forces in Operation Sindoor proved both their strength and their maturity. “The world has seen how our forces destroyed the terrorists. They showed bravery, but they also showed restraint, and did only what was necessary,” he said.
Rajnath Singh stressed that strong connectivity in border areas was one of the biggest reasons why Operation Sindoor could be carried out so effectively. He said that roads, communication networks, satellite support and regular logistics helped Indian soldiers to operate smoothly even in the toughest terrains. “Our troops were able to get supplies right on time. Connectivity with remote border areas remained strong, and that made a historic difference,” he added.
He pointed out that every second matters for a soldier standing guard at the border. He said that communication should not only be seen as mobile networks or fibre cables, but as something that holds the entire security system together. “Communication is not just infrastructure. It helps maintain harmony, understanding and peace in society. It is the backbone of national security,” he said.
The Defence Minister also mentioned that because of improved communication systems, he can visit and meet soldiers at any location in the country. He added that the government is constantly working to strengthen connectivity in border regions like Ladakh so that the armed forces always remain ready and well-supported.
He assured that the Central government, the armed forces and organisations like BRO will continue working together for the holistic development of border areas. He said it is important to keep strengthening the trust and bond between the forces and locals, and ensure that “no external force can ever break this relationship.”
Rajnath Singh also linked better connectivity with India’s growing economy. He said that infrastructure development at the borders is not only making the country safer, but is also boosting business opportunities and improving life for local communities. Referring to India’s 8.2% GDP growth in the second quarter of 2025–26, he said that strong communication networks and large-scale reforms have played a major role in pushing the country’s economic progress forward.
