Drass ,Jul 26 (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said India will not hold any talks with Pakistan except on the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), asserting that every threat to the country’s sovereignty will be met with a strong response.
Addressing the Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorative event at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass, Singh said any future dialogue with Pakistan would be confined to the issue of PoK, which he described as an integral part of India under Pakistan’s illegal occupation.
The defence minister accused Pakistan of institutionalising terrorism as part of its state policy and alleged there was no distinction between its military establishment and terrorist organisations.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, Singh said the Indian armed forces had demonstrated their capability to respond decisively to terrorism and any hostile act, adding that India would respond with greater force to every threat against its sovereignty.
Paying tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives during the 1999 Kargil conflict, Singh described the war as a defining moment that highlighted the courage, determination and sacrifice of the Indian armed forces.
He said the names inscribed at the Kargil War Memorial represent every region, religion and community of the country, reflecting India’s unity and resolve.
Drawing a comparison between the two countries, Singh said India was advancing through innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and space exploration, while Pakistan continued to encourage terrorism, radicalisation and cross-border infiltration.
He said the armed forces remained fully prepared to counter any challenge to the country’s security.
Recalling the sacrifices made during the Kargil War, Singh said many soldiers were in their early twenties but chose to lay down their lives in the service of the nation, while also acknowledging the hardships endured by the families of the fallen personnel.
On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, the defence minister paid homage to all soldiers who sacrificed their lives in defence of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.(NVI)
