AI Generated Summary
- Drawing a sharp contrast between the two countries 27 years after the Kargil War, the Defence Minister said India’s path is one of innovation and growth while Pakistan remains trapped in a cycle of terror.
- Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday firmly ruled out any dialogue with Pakistan except on the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), describing the territory as an integral part of India that remains under illegal occupation.
- The remarks reaffirm India’s consistent position that terror and talks cannot go together and that the only outstanding issue with Pakistan on Kashmir is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday firmly ruled out any dialogue with Pakistan except on the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), describing the territory as an integral part of India that remains under illegal occupation.
Speaking at the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorations at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras, Singh said: “There will be no talks with Pakistan. If there are any talks, they will be only on PoK, which is a part of India and illegally occupied by Pakistan.”
The minister issued a stark warning to Islamabad, asserting that any future misadventure would invite a response “far beyond its imagination.” He linked the tough posture to the success of Operation Sindoor, the May 2025 military action launched after the Pahalgam terror attack. “The success of Operation Sindoor is proof that India possesses the capability to respond to Pakistan’s every misadventure with a severity far beyond its imagination,” Singh said. He added that every nefarious act against India’s sovereignty would meet the same resolute response delivered to terrorists and their patrons.
Singh accused Pakistan of making terrorism an instrument of state policy. “In Pakistan, the distinction between the military and militants has vanished… Pakistan’s military not only shelters terrorist organisations but also works with them. That is why during Operation Sindoor, we made it clear that India no longer views terrorists and the governments that nurture them as separate entities,” he stated.
Drawing a sharp contrast between the two countries 27 years after the Kargil War, the Defence Minister said India’s path is one of innovation and growth while Pakistan remains trapped in a cycle of terror. “While India is exploring new avenues of innovation, Pakistan is seeking new routes for infiltration. India is engaged in chip design, whereas Pakistan is busy designing terror. India is building a start-up ecosystem, while Pakistan is constructing a terror ecosystem. India is manufacturing semiconductors; Pakistan is preparing suicide bombers… India is establishing data centres, while Pakistan is setting up radicalisation centres,” he said.
Singh paid tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives during the 1999 Kargil conflict, recalling the valour of heroes such as Captain Vikram Batra. Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and senior military commanders joined him in paying homage at the memorial.
The remarks reaffirm India’s consistent position that terror and talks cannot go together and that the only outstanding issue with Pakistan on Kashmir is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory.
