Udhampur: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday warned Pakistan that any future terror attack on Indian soil will have serious consequences on the country as Operation Sindoor is not over yet and India is ready to take any action against the menace.
Addressing troops of Udhampur-based northern command here after joining them on the occasion of International Yoga Day, the defence minister said Operation Sindoor conveyed a message to Pakistan that their “thousand cut” policy against India is not going to succeed.
“Operation Sindoor is not over yet… through this operation, we have told Pakistan that continuing terrorism against India will not be tolerated and the response will get from bad to worse,” Singh, flanked by Army chief Upendra Dwivedi, said.
Under Operation Sindoor, Indian Armed forces struck terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir during the intervening night of May 6 and 7 in retaliation to Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 persons, mostly tourists, dead on April 22.
“Operation Sindoor was a natural progression of 2016 surgical strike and 2019 air strike (across the border). We conveyed to Pakistan that its policy of thousand cuts against India will not succeed.
“Any terror attack on the soil of India will prove disastrous for Pakistan. India is ready to take any type of action against terrorism,” Singh said.
Top military brass briefs Rajnath Singh on border security, arrangements for Amarnath
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was briefed by top Army brass on Saturday on the prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with a focus on border areas, anti-terrorist operations and the Amarnath Yatra scheduled to start next month, officials said.
Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lt Gen Pratik Sharma and other senior officers including commanding officers of all units attended the meeting at Udhampur-based northern command headquarters, they said.
Singh reached Udhampur headquarters of the northern command on a two-day visit on Friday and led the International Day of Yoga celebrations of the Armed Forces on Saturday morning, performing various asanas and breathing exercises with 2,500 soldiers.
After the yoga session, the top Army brass briefed the defence minister on the prevailing security situation in the Union territory, the officials said.
The briefing focused on security in the border areas as well as the hinterland, especially anti-terrorist operations in forested areas. It also covered security arrangements made for the annual 38-day Amarnath Yatra scheduled to begin in the South Kashmir Himalayas on July 3.
The Army is part of the multi-tier security arrangements made for the smooth conduct of the yatra, especially for combing the forests surrounding the twin tracks — the traditional 48-kilometre Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the 14-kilometre shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district besides the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.
Defence Minister urges soldiers to continue practising yoga to be battle-ready
Appreciating the inclination of the armed forces personnel towards Yoga, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said the practice prepares a soldier physically and mentally and makes him battle-ready.
Singh led a mass yoga demonstration on the occasion of International Day of Yoga at northern command headquarters here, performing various asanas and breathing exercises with 2,500 soldiers.
The event was joined by Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma.
Yoga sessions were also performed at numerous forward locations in the challenging terrain of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, showcasing the commitment and enthusiasm of the soldiers.
The defence minister appreciated the inclination of the Armed Forces personnel towards Yoga which, he said, has a direct impact on their discipline and focus.
“Yoga prepares a soldier physically and mentally and its benefits can be seen in the battlefield,” he said, encouraging the soldiers to continue practising it daily.
In his address to the troops, he credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for popularising yoga globally and highlighted that the practice provides a holistic approach to health and well-being.
He termed yoga as a universal solution to the problems faced by people in today’s fast-paced world such as stress, anxiety and depression.
“Yoga gives clarity to the people in chaos. It is an art, a science, a philosophy, and spirituality. Those who practice yoga in their daily lives have control over their body and mind. It makes us proactive, not reactive,” he said.
Describing Operation Sindoor as a shining example of that control, the defence minister said Indian Armed Forces displayed restraint, balance and precision during the operation, which is a reflection of their inner strength attained by practising Yoga.
“When the nation is celebrating International Day of Yoga, it should remember the true meaning of the practice, which is to connect every section of society with the culture and soul of India. If even one section is left behind, the wheel of unity and security is broken. Therefore, today, we should perform yoga at the level of society and thought and not just body,” he said.
Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that ‘Yoga is India’s gift to the world’, Singh said it is not just a diplomatic quote, but a vision.
“Through Yoga, India has given the world a tool which is beyond any border, religion, and culture,” the defence minister said, pointing out that the theme of International Day of Yoga each year sends a global message that India thinks not only for itself, but for the welfare of the world.
This year’s theme for the International Day of Yoga is ‘One Earth, One Health’.
He said, “The whole world is a family and working for it is a part of our thinking. Yoga is a practical expression of this thinking, it is silently changing the world and every citizen should be proud of the fact that India’s ancient tradition is being recognised and accepted globally.”
He dubbed it as a responsibility to not just practice yoga as a trend but make it a way of life.
“There is a need to incorporate yoga as a resolution in our lives. It should be a part of our daily routine as it brings positive changes in everyone’s life,” he said.
Singh said yoga is no longer just an individual practice but it has become a global movement with United Nations, World Health Organisations and other international groups including it in their mental and physical health frame.
