Defence Minister Rajnath Singh used the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorations in Dras, Ladakh, on Sunday to deliver a sharp warning to Pakistan, saying any “misadventure” by the neighbouring country would invite a response “beyond their imagination”.

He linked his remarks to Operation Sindoor and said the operation had shown “what will be the fate of those who indulge in terrorism”.

The remarks came as India marked Kargil Vijay Diwas, which commemorates the 1999 war victory and honours the soldiers who died in the conflict.

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No room for polite ambiguities today

Singh also drew a clear red line on bilateral engagement.

“There will be no talks with Pakistan other than on PoK, a part of India that was illegally occupied,” he said, reiterating the Centre’s long-standing position.

Singh widened his attack beyond security, addressing the gathering on the 27th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. He contrasted India’s current trajectory with Pakistan’s.

The defence minister said India is building data centres while Pakistan is creating “radical centres”.

Singh pointed out that India is producing semiconductors while Pakistan “makes suicide bombers”, a line that underscored his charge that India and Pakistan now stand on opposite sides of development and extremism.

He also said India’s armed forces have always had the capability to defend the country, but what was missing in the past was political will. He added that the present government has no shortage of political will and gives the armed forces freedom to take decisive action in the interest of national security.

Echoes of Kargil still carry the day

In Dras, he invoked the spirit of the conflict and recalled Captain Vikram Batra’s slogan, “Yeh Dil Maange More”, which he said reflected the courage and resolve of Indian soldiers.

The message was firmly framed around deterrence, with Singh arguing that India’s security forces remain prepared and that any hostile move from Pakistan would be met decisively.

His remarks added to the day’s tributes to the soldiers who fought in the war and to the government’s broader messaging on national security.

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FAQs

Q1: What did Rajnath Singh say about Pakistan on Kargil Vijay Diwas?

Rajnath Singh said any future “misadventure” by Pakistan would invite a response from India “beyond their imagination.”

Q2: What did Rajnath Singh say about talks with Pakistan?

He said India would hold no talks with Pakistan except on the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).