'India hasn’t been fortunate with neighbours, but ...': Rajnath Singh on 1965 war veterans, Operation Sindoor

The minister was speaking at an event in South Block to honour veterans of the 1965 India-Pakistan war.

India has not been “fortunate” with its neighbours since Independence; however, the country has always shaped its own destiny through courage, sacrifice, and decisive leadership, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday.

“Since independence, India hasn’t been fortunate with its neighbours, but we haven’t accepted these challenges as fate; we’ve shaped our own destiny", he noted.

"We saw an example of this in Operation Sindoor. That incident leaves us heavy-hearted and filled with anger, but it didn’t break our morale. Our Prime Minister took a pledge, and we’ve demonstrated for decades that victory has become our habit, one we must maintain,” Singh said.

The minister was speaking at an event in South Block to honour veterans of the 1965 India-Pakistan war.  The Defence Minister hailed the veterans’ unmatched bravery, saying their self-respect and spirit of sacrifice ensured India’s sovereignty remained uncompromised.

“I was wondering what is the feeling that inspires us to sacrifice everything. The feeling of self-respect is the greatest feeling. If foreign powers dare to look at us with an evil eye, we sacrifice everything to protect them. The bravery you displayed in 1965 is incomparable. On behalf of a grateful nation, I salute you. We will not allow the integrity of the country to be compromised in any way,” he noted.

Further honouring their bravery, Singh said the veterans’ accounts went beyond what history books record, “There are many books on the 1965 war, but when Nambiar Sahib and Bedi Sahib spoke today, I felt that not everything was written in books. The nights spent in tanks… Every veteran here must be remembering those who were martyred, but that martyrdom will not go in vain. I salute their memory.”

Also recalling the Battle of Asal Uttar, Singh praised Param Vir Chakra awardee Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid, who had destroyed a line of Pakistani tanks.

“The 1965 war was not easy for us. Pakistan carried out infiltration, but many battles took place during that time that were historic. The world’s largest tank battle took place there. Our brave Abdul Hamid burned a line of tanks. He proved that bravery isn’t just about the size of the weapon; it’s about the size of the heart,” he stated.

The Defence Minister also lauded then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s leadership.  “A war isn’t just fought on the battlefield; it’s a collective effort by the entire nation. Shastri ji not only made decisive political decisions but also guided the nation. His slogan of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan continues to inspire us even today,” Singh further added.

Calling the 1965 war “a true test of India’s strength,” Singh said Pakistan miscalculated by attempting to intimidate India with infiltration and guerrilla tactics.

“The 1965 war was not just a small skirmish; it was a test of India’s strength. Pakistan thought it could push us back, but our enemies did not realize that every citizen raised on Indian soil grows up with the conviction that the sovereignty and integrity of this country will never be compromised,” he said.

Singh said listening to veterans left him “thrilled” and reflective, “I wondered what kind of divine spirit had filled you with such courage that you never let the head of Mother India bow. I bow to your bravery. I also thought about the emotions that must have inspired you to sacrifice everything, and I realised it was a deep sense of pride, sometimes personal too. When an enemy dares to create mischief at our borders, it is national pride that drives our soldiers.”

The Indo-Pak war of 1965 began on September 6 and ended with the Tashkent Agreement on January 10, 1966.