Monitoring Desk
Beijing,26 June: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has stated that the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam bears significant resemblance to previous terror operations carried out by the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
According to Hindustan Times and various media reports, Singh was speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, China, on Thursday. During his address, he reiterated India’s strong stance against terrorism and underlined that peace and terrorism cannot coexist.
Operation Sindoor and Pahalgam Attack
Referring to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam — in which 26 civilians lost their lives — Singh said the attack’s pattern matched that of previous LeT operations on Indian soil. Following this incident, India blamed Pakistan for sponsoring the attack — an allegation Pakistan has denied.
In response, India launched a military operation named ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, 2025. Singh described the operation as a pre-emptive strike aimed at dismantling terrorist launchpads and infrastructure across the border. He said,
“India exercised its right to self-defence and successfully launched Operation Sindoor to dismantle cross-border terrorist infrastructure.”
Singh emphasized the importance of holding terrorists and their sponsors accountable:
“We reiterate the need to hold the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of such reprehensible acts accountable and bring them to justice.”
Regional Peace and Security
Highlighting regional challenges, Singh noted that the biggest threats today stem from a deficit of peace, security, and trust.
“No country, however large and powerful, can handle this alone,” he said, calling for reformed multilateralism and collective global mechanisms to prevent conflict.
He concluded with a stern warning to terrorist groups:
“We have shown that epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe, and we will not hesitate to target them.”
This statement follows days of heightened tension between India and Pakistan, including cross-border military exchanges and mutual accusations of missile and drone attacks. The escalation subsided after U.S. President Donald Trump announced on May 10 that both nations had agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire” as a result of American diplomatic intervention.
Note: This report is based on multiple media sources and Hindustan Times coverage of the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting.
