We could have done much more if we wanted: Rajnath Singh on Operation Sindoor

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the Indian armed forces “could have done much more” during Operation Sindoor but chose a “restrained” and necessary response. He was speaking at the inauguration of 125 new infrastructure projects built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) across several border states and Union Territories.

Recalling the response to the Pahalgam terror attack, Singh said Operation Sindoor demonstrated both strength and maturity. “Just a few months ago, we witnessed how, in response to the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, our armed forces executed Operation Sindoor, and the world knows what they did to the terrorists. Of course, we could have done much more had we wanted, but our forces demonstrated not only valour but also restraint, doing only what was necessary,” he noted.

He added that timely logistics and uninterrupted connectivity played a crucial role. “Our armed forces were able to deliver logistics right on time. Connectivity with the border areas was also maintained, giving Operation Sindoor its historic success,” he said.

Singh praised the coordination between the military, civil administration and local residents. “During Operation Sindoor, the coordination we witnessed among our armed forces, the civil administration, and the citizens of the border areas was incredible. I express my gratitude to every citizen of Ladakh as well as the border areas for extending their support to our armed forces,” he said.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to target terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.

Singh credited improved road and communication links in remote regions as a key factor behind the success of the recent military operation. “Our continuous endeavour has been to strengthen our communication and connectivity with all border areas, including Ladakh. We are fully committed to the overall development of each border area,” he said.

Highlighting the growth of India’s defence manufacturing sector, the minister said production has risen sharply over the past decade. “Due to our hard work in the last 10 years, our defence production, which was approximately Rs 46,000 crore in 2014, has now grown to a record Rs 1.51 lakh crore. Our defence exports, which were less than Rs 1,000 crore 10 years ago, have now reached nearly Rs 24,000 crore,” Singh said.

The defence minister said enhanced border connectivity is transforming India’s strategic capabilities. “Today, our soldiers stand strong in difficult terrains because they have access to roads, real-time communication systems, satellite support, surveillance networks, and logistics connectivity,” he stated, adding that stronger networks are also boosting the economy, citing the 8.2 per cent GDP growth in Q2 of 2025–26.

The 125 newly inaugurated BRO projects, costing Rs 5,000 crore, include 28 roads, 93 bridges and four additional works across Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Mizoram. Officials said this marks the BRO’s highest-value and largest single-day inauguration.

Singh also praised BRO for adopting indigenous technology such as Class-70 modular bridges developed with Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers. He noted that BRO’s expenditure reached a record Rs 16,690 crore in 2024–25, with a target of Rs 18,700 crore for 2025–26, reflecting the government’s confidence in its capabilities.

In the past two years, 356 BRO infrastructure projects have been dedicated to the nation, an official added.