Rajnath Singh praises Op Sindoor, says 'mission completed in 22 minutes'

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that over 100 terrorists were eliminated in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) during a precise and swift military operation by India in May this year. Opening the debate on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha, Singh told the House that the entire mission was completed in just 22 minutes.

“The entire operation was concluded within 22 minutes,” Singh said.

Addressing the Lok Sabha, Singh began by paying homage to the armed forces and martyrs. “...On behalf of the entire nation, I express gratitude to all the personnel of the armed forces,” he said.

Giving details of the operation, Singh said that on May 6 and 7, the Indian Armed Forces carried out a "historic" military strike named Operation Sindoor. “It was not merely a military operation, but it was an effective and decisive demonstration of India’s sovereignty, its identity, our responsibility towards the nation’s citizens, and our policy against terrorism,” the minister said.

Terror infrastructure destroyed

The defence minister said that Indian forces conducted “well-coordinated strikes” on nine terrorist infrastructure targets. The operation killed more than 100 terrorists, including their trainers and handlers, most of whom were affiliated with proscribed outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

He added that India’s actions were defensive and not provocative. However, he said, on May 10 at around 1:30 am, Pakistan launched a large-scale attack on India using missiles, drones, rockets, and electronic warfare systems. “Our actions were entirely in self-defence, neither provocative nor expansionist. Yet, on May 10, 2025, at approximately 1:30 am, Pakistan launched a large-scale attack on India using missiles, drones, rockets, and other long-range weapons. Alongside this, they also employed technologies related to electronic warfare,” Singh told the House.

In retaliation to Pakistan’s aggression, he said the Indian Air Force responded with a powerful counterstrike. “In response to this attack by Pakistan, our action has been bold, concrete, and effective. The Indian Air Force targeted Pakistan's airfields, command and control centres, military infrastructure, and air defence systems on the Western front. And this mission was successfully executed by our forces,” he said.

Mission was to eliminate terror nurseries, says Rajnath Singh

He further told the Lok Sabha that Operation Sindoor was a resounding example of India's zero tolerance against terrorism and marked a turning point in the country’s military response strategy. He clarified that the objective was not to capture territory but to destroy terror camps and send a strong message. “Crossing the border or capturing territory was not the objective... The purpose was to eliminate those terror nurseries that Pakistan had nurtured for years,” he said.

Singh said the operation was paused only after achieving all political and military goals. “To say or believe that this operation was stopped under any pressure is baseless and utterly incorrect.”

The minister said the IAF’s May 10 strikes forced Pakistan to seek a ceasefire. “Pakistan admitted defeat and offered to cease hostilities... with the caveat that this Operation has only been paused.”

He further informed that Pakistan’s DGMO contacted India on May 10 and formal talks on May 12 led to halting military operations. Singh also hit out at the opposition for questioning aircraft losses. “Instead, they should ask whether India destroyed terrorist bases. The answer is, yes.”

Concluding, Singh said India seeks peace, but under PM Modi’s leadership, the country “can go to any extent against terrorism".