‘Any future attack on our soil will have serious consequences’
DM reviews yatra arrangements with top brass of Army
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 21: In a stern warning to Pakistan, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said India is ready to take any action against terrorism and that any future terror attack on Indian soil will have serious consequences.
He was addressing troops at the Northern Command Headquarters in Udhampur after performing yoga along with them on International Yoga Day.
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Later, Rajnath also reviewed security situation in Jammu and Kashmir including arrangements for annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji with Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi and Northern Command chief Lt Gen Pratik Sharma besides other top Army Commanders. The 38-day-long yatra will start on July 3 and last till August 9. Army plays key role in security arrangements for the pilgrimage at many locations.
Asserting that Operation Sindoor is not over yet, the Defence Minister warned Pakistan that any future terror attack on Indian soil will have serious consequences.
“India is ready to take any action against terrorism. Operation Sindoor conveyed to Pakistan that its “thousand cuts” policy against India will not succeed. 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,” Rajnath said.
He said Operation Sindoor was not just a reaction to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, but natural progression of the 2016 surgical strike and the 2019 (Balakot) airstrike. “Any terror attack on Indian soil will come at a great cost to Pakistan,” he added.
The Defence Minister said as part of Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces precisely destroyed terrorists’ forts across the border.
Asserting that India showed restraint, he said the Armed Forces could have easily destroyed other targets but they did not do that. He attributed this to yoga, which he mentioned helps overcome anger, makes one physically and mentally strong, and controls power.
“The Pahalgam attack, which was planned across the border, was not just another terrorist incident but was aimed at disturbing India’s social and communal unity. We not only foiled their plans but also took retaliatory action that forced Pakistan to kneel and only then did we halt Operation Sindoor,” Rajnath said.
The Defence Minister also reviewed security situation in Jammu and Kashmir especially arrangements for upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji yatra in South Kashmir Himalayas with top brass of the Army at Northern Command Headquarters before flying back to New Delhi.
He reached Udhampur last evening along with Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi.
The Army Commanders gave Rajnath Singh a detailed briefing on the prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with a focus on border areas, anti-terrorist operations and Shri Amarnath yatra.
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.
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.
Meanwhile, Rajnath appreciated the inclination of the Armed Forces personnel towards Yoga saying the practice prepares a soldier physically and mentally and makes him battle-ready.
Singh led mass yoga demonstrations on the occasion of International Day of Yoga at Northern Command headquarters here, performing various asanas and breathing exercises with 2,500 soldiers.
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 practicing it daily.
In his address to the troops, he credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for popularizing 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 practicing 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 recognized 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 Organizations and other international groups including it in their mental and physical health frame.
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