NEW DELHI – India will respond with the full force of its navy to any future aggression by Pakistan, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declared on Friday, following the most intense military clashes in decades between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Speaking aboard the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant off the coast of Goa, Singh warned, “If Pakistan resorts to anything evil or unethical, it will, this time, face the firepower and ire of the Indian Navy.”
The statement comes in the wake of four days of fierce hostilities this month involving fighter jets, missiles, drones, and artillery, which ended with a ceasefire on May 10. Tensions flared after a deadly April 22 attack in the disputed Kashmir region that killed 26 people, mostly Indian tourists. India blamed the assault on Pakistan-backed terrorists, an allegation Islamabad denies.
Pakistan’s military has reiterated its stance from a May 12 statement, promising a “comprehensive and decisive” response to any threats to its sovereignty or territorial integrity. A senior Pakistani official said both sides were now working toward de-escalation and reducing troop deployments along the border.
India’s military responded rapidly to the April 22 attack by deploying its aircraft carrier battle group, submarines, and aviation units to the northern Arabian Sea within 96 hours. Singh revealed that India’s military strikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’ were currently paused but not concluded. “We stopped our military actions on our own terms. Our forces had not even started showing their might,” he stated.
The defence minister’s remarks signal a hardened stance from New Delhi and underscore the growing role of the Indian Navy in potential future conflicts with Pakistan.