Amid heightened military tensions following a recent four-day conflict with Pakistan, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Gujarat and Jammu & Kashmir to review operational preparedness and security along critical border areas.
During his visit to Gujarat, which shares a 508-kilometre-long border with Pakistan, Singh assessed the preparedness of the Indian armed forces, particularly in view of recent drone incursions from across the border. Bhuj, a key border town in Gujarat, was reportedly targeted by Pakistani drones during the conflict, but Indian forces effectively neutralized the threats, averting any major damage.
“Gujarat has been on the frontline during the recent confrontation, and the response by our forces was swift and precise. We will continue to bolster our surveillance and defence systems,” Singh reportedly said while addressing senior military officials.
Earlier in the week, the Defence Minister made a significant visit to Jammu and Kashmir — one of the worst-hit regions during the confrontation. Addressing soldiers at the Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar, Singh questioned the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, urging international oversight.
“The whole world has seen how irresponsibly Pakistan has threatened India,” Singh stated. “Today, from the land of Srinagar, I want to raise this question — are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such an irresponsible and rogue nation? I believe Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should be placed under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).”
Highlighting the recent attacks on civilians in Pahalgam, Singh condemned the targeted killings based on religion and praised the Indian forces for their retaliatory precision. “Terrorists killed innocent people in Pahalgam by asking their ‘dharma’ (religion). The entire world saw the reply you gave after that. We eliminated terrorists based on their ‘karma’ (deeds),” he said.
This marks Singh’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since the commencement of Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the drone and ground-based aggression from across the border. During his visit, he also reviewed the security situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border, meeting with top army officials and frontline troops.
As regional tensions remain high, Singh’s back-to-back visits underscore India’s commitment to national security and its readiness to respond to any provocation.