Rajnath Singh (File Photo)
NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday raised concerns over Sir Creek and blamed Pakistan’s intentions for stalled dialogue, even 78 years after independence.The Sir Creek dispute is a long-standing boundary issue between India and Pakistan in the Rann of Kutch region, where the creek meets the Arabian Sea.”Even after 78 years of independence, a dispute over the border in the Sir Creek area is being stirred up. India has made several attempts to resolve it through dialogue, but there is a flaw in Pakistan’s intentions; its intentions are not clear. The way in which the Pakistan army has recently expanded its military infrastructure in areas adjacent to Sir Creek reveals its intentions,” Rajnath said.The defence minister added that the Indian Army is consistently protecting the borders and any attempt by Pakistan will be met with strong measures.”The Indian Army and BSF are jointly and vigilantly protecting the borders of India. If any misadventure is attempted from the Pakistan side in the Sir Creek area, it will receive such a decisive response that both history and geography will change. In the 1965 war, the Indian Army had demonstrated the capability to reach Lahore. Today in 2025, Pakistan should remember that one route to Karachi passes through the creek,” Rajnath said. Rajnath Singh also hailed Operation Sindoor, complimenting its capability to neutralise enemies hidden anywhere at any time, and condemned Pakistan’s “failed” attempt to breach India’s defence. “During Operation Sindoor, our armed forces demonstrated that the forces challenging India’s sovereignty, no matter where they are hiding, we have the power to find them and eliminate them. No power in the world, if it challenges our sovereignty, will find India sitting silently. Today’s India says that whether it is terrorism or any other kind of problem, we have the capability to deal with and defeat it. During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan made a failed attempt to breach India’s defence system from Leh to this area of Sir Creek. India’s armed forces completely exposed the Pakistani air defence system and sent a message to the world that India’s armed forces can inflict heavy damage on Pakistan whenever, wherever, and however they wish,” said Rajnath.He added that, despite India’s capabilities, escalating or waging war is not the nation’s intention.Rajnath said, “Despite our capabilities, we exercised restraint because our military action was directed against terrorism. Escalating the situation and waging war was not the objective of Operation Sindoor. I am pleased that Indian forces have successfully achieved all of Operation Sindoor’s military objectives. However, our fight against terrorism continues.”
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