New Delhi, May 23 (KNO): Asserting that actions of the neighbouring country have confirmed that terrorism in India is Pakistan-sponsored, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that “Operation Sindoor” tore apart the veil and exposed the bonding between terrorists and Pakistan Army.
Addressing BSF investiture ceremony Shah, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “When we launched an attack on terrorist sites in Pakistan, the Pakistan army retaliated. The officers of the Pakistan army attended the funeral of the terrorists.”
The Union Home Minister said, “Pakistan proved that it sponsors terrorism by considering the attack on the terrorists as an attack on itself and dared to target our country’s civilians and military institutions. India’s air defence system is remarkable, and Pakistan’s attacks could not harm us.”
He said what Pakistan had always denied has now been fully exposed to the world after “Operation Sindoor.” “Its actions have confirmed that terrorism in India is Pakistan-sponsored.“
“Through Operation Sindoor, bonding between Pakistan and terrorism has been exposed to the entire world. When terrorist bases in Pakistan were attacked, the Pakistani army responded, and the world witnessed senior Pakistani army officers attending the funerals of the killed terrorists,” the Home Minister.
Shah said that “Operation Sindoor” was the most precise and successful response in the history of countering terrorist attacks on our soil. “Today, experts worldwide are praising the bravery, lethal capabilities, and restraint of our soldiers,” he added.
INDIA’S RESPONSE TO TERROR UNIQUE
The Union Home Minister said, “When Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, the first major terrorist attack on our soldiers occurred in Uri, and for the first time, we conducted a surgical strike, penetrating into the terrorist hideouts and giving a befitting response.”
He said, “We believed the response will put an end to the terror activities, but it didn’t, and another terrorist attack took place in Pulwama on our soldiers. This time, the Indian forces responded decisively with an airstrike, once again destroying terrorist bases.”
Shah said, “The situation deteriorated further in Pahalgam, where Pakistan-sponsored terrorists brutally killed innocent tourists in front of their wives and families after questioning their religion. At that time, Prime Minister Modi declared that this terrorist attack would receive a fitting response, and Operation Sindoor was that appropriate response. Today, the entire world is praising the bravery and lethal capabilities of our armed forces.”
The Union Home Minister said that while responses to terrorist attacks have been given in many parts of the world, the response India has given is unique. “After the attack in Pahalgam, we launched Operation Sindoor and, within minutes, destroyed nine terrorist bases, two of which were headquarters of terrorist organizations.”
INDIAN ARMED FORCES SHOWCASED THEIR LETHAL CAPABILITIES
He emphasized that the Indian forces initially neither attacked Pakistan’s military establishments nor their airbases, but only demolished the terrorist hideouts responsible for heinous crimes on our soil.
Shah said that we believed this would suffice, as our attack was solely against the terrorists. “When the Pakistani army attempted to attack on our civilians and military institutions, the Indian armed forces responded decisively by attacking their airbase, showcasing our lethal capabilities and proving their air defence system ineffective. Even during that time, we did not attack any civilian locations in Pakistan.”
Shah, as per KNO, said that the entire nation is proud of Army and BSF border guards. “The BSF has demonstrated, by responding to bullets with bullets at the border, that as long as the BSF is present, the Pakistani army cannot advance even an inch.”
He said, “Operation Sindoor has also effectively showcased the success of self-reliant India in defence production. In the coming days, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, this campaign will gain further momentum, and we will move toward greater self-reliance.”
He noted that during Operation Sindoor, BSF personnel Mohammad Imtiyaz Ahmad and Deepak Chingakham made the supreme sacrifice while protecting the motherland, and their names will forever be etched in golden letters in the history of the nation’s defence.
OPERATION SINDOOR REMARKABLE DEMONSTRATION OF PM MODI'S FIRM POLITICAL WILL
The Union Home Minister said, “Operation Sindoor is a remarkable demonstration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's firm political will, precise intelligence inputs from agencies, and the lethal capabilities of our forces. For decades, our country has faced Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, and over the years, Pakistan carried out multiple terrorist attacks, but they were never adequately responded to.”
BSF’S CONTRIBUTION EXCEPTIONAL
He said, “The BSF secures India’s over 15,000-kilometer-long and most challenging border. Over the past five years, the BSF has made efforts to find numerous technological solutions. In areas where fencing is not possible, the BSF has experimentally implemented global technological solutions for border security.”
He added that BSF personnel have also developed several in-house solutions, and these technological advancements for securing geographically challenging borders will help keep the country safe in the coming days. “In Operation Sindoor, BSF and Army set an unparalleled example of bravery before the world,: he said.
Shah said that since BSF’s inception on December 1, 1965, with 2.75 lakh personnel, has established itself as the foremost among all border security forces worldwide by forming water, land, and air security units, performing its role exceptionally well.
He noted that the nation has always honored the bravery of BSF personnel, with 1 Padma Vibhushan, 2 Padma Bhushan, 7 Padma Shri, 1 Mahavir Chakra, 6 Kirti Chakras, 13 Shaurya Chakras, 56 Army Medals, and 1,246 Police Medals for Gallantry awarded to BSF personnel.
Shah said this reflects the extraordinary dedication of a force that receives such numerous accolades. He added that over the past five years, the BSF has strengthened the fight against narcotics by seizing approximately 1.1 lakh kilograms of drugs. He also noted that by eliminating over 78 Naxalites in the past five years, the BSF has significantly contributed to the success of anti-Naxal operations.
Shah said that the journey of the BSF demonstrates how an organization that began with limited resources in challenging circumstances has emerged as the world's largest and most prestigious border security force.
He said that BSF is the finest example of how patriotism can overcome all difficulties to achieve global excellence. He highlighted that the patriotism and dedication shown by BSF personnel in adverse conditions—be it temperatures above 45 degrees or extremely low, dense jungles, rugged mountains, or coastal areas—have earned the BSF the honour of being the first line of defence.
Shah added that a decision was made in the country to assign one force to secure each border, and based on the BSF's capability, it was entrusted with the responsibility of securing two of the most challenging borders, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Remembering the contributions of K.F. Rustamji, who played a pivotal role in raising the BSF, Union Home Minister said that after the 1965 war, a need was felt for a force that could secure the borders even during peacetime, leading to the inception of the BSF, with Rustamji becoming its first Director General.
He stated that the bravery and contributions of BSF personnel in the 1971 war, which was imposed on India, will never be forgotten by the nation, nor should Bangladesh ever forget it.
Shah emphasized that the BSF played a significant role in the creation of Bangladesh and set an exemplary standard of bravery by standing shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces in fighting against injustice.
The Union Home Minister said that alongside border security, the BSF has actively participated and achieved results in internal security, disaster management, and anti-terrorism operations.
He noted that whether it is elections, the COVID-19 pandemic, sports events, or combating terrorism and Naxalism, the BSF has performed its duties exceptionally well on every front where it has been deployed.
The Union Home Minister said that the PM Modi led government, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and the entire nation stand behind the bravery of BSF personnel firmly. He emphasized that the country trusts and honors the BSF personnel—(KNO)