Srinagar, Aug 25 (KNO): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Indian soldiers target terrorists for their actions, not their religion, unlike the Pahalgam attackers who identified victims by name and faith before killing them.
“Our soldiers do not act against anyone based on religion, but on their actions,” Singh said while speaking in Jodhpur at the inauguration of the Adarsh Defence and Sports Academy, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). “During the Pahalgam attack, terrorists asked people their names and religion before killing them. In response, our forces did not follow that path. We targeted terrorists based solely on their deeds."
Under Operation Sindoor in May, Indian forces carried out precision strikes on targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir linked to terror groups.
"Our soldiers did not kill terrorists based on their religion but based on their deeds," the Defence Minister said, adding that the set targets were hit with accuracy.
This operation shows that India’s security policy is based on action, not identity, Rajnath said. “The full support from civilians in border areas proves that national security isn’t only the duty of the armed forces or the government, it is a shared responsibility of every citizen,” he added.
Between May 7 and 10, Indian forces were engaged in a skirmish with Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack that left 26 tourists dead.
The Defence Minister said the armed forces responded effectively and fully achieved their objectives, adding that if any misadventure occurs in the future, the response will be even stronger than before.
Singh hailed the role of youth, saying they showed strong determination during the operation. He said India follows the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning the world is one family. "India does not discriminate based on caste or religion," he said.
Rajnath also spoke about changes in the education sector. He said the progress made in recent years reflects India's strength. “The difference we now see in education compared to the past is the real change and the future of India,” he said.
He further said that reforms in education have been difficult. As Education Minister in Uttar Pradesh, he had introduced a law to curb cheating. “In the next Assembly elections, I was defeated by the opposition candidate who had promised to scrap the anti-cheating law," he said.
The Adarsh Defence and Sports Academy, inaugurated by Singh, is part of a project with an estimated cost of Rs 110 crore, of which Rs 30 crore has been used under the Lalsagar project.
The Defence Minister said education should contribute to physical, mental and spiritual development. "Honour and self-respect are essential for a person and the country, and whenever these are challenged, a reply is given," he said—(KNO)