New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the 79th Independence Day, praised the Indian Armed Forces for the success of Operation Sindoor, a military offensive targeting terror infrastructure inside Pakistan in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
In a strongly worded speech, PM Modi described the operation as a reflection of India’s collective outrage after terrorists from across the border brutally killed civilians in Pahalgam, reportedly after asking their religion.
“Our brave jawans punished the enemy beyond its imagination,” Modi said. “Operation Sindoor is an expression of India’s anger. The entire country was outraged, and the world stood shocked by such brutality.”
The Prime Minister revealed that the armed forces were given full operational freedom following the Pahalgam massacre. “They chose the strategy, the timing, and the targets. What they achieved had not been done in decades — striking deep into enemy territory and demolishing terrorist headquarters,” he said, adding that the extent of damage in Pakistan is still unfolding with new intelligence surfacing regularly.
In a direct warning to Islamabad, PM Modi stated that India will no longer tolerate any form of nuclear blackmail, asserting that terrorists and their backers will be treated equally.
“If the enemy attempts any misadventure again, our response will be decisive and overwhelming. The era of restraint in the face of terrorism is over. We have set a new normal,” Modi said.
He also criticized the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it historically unfair to India. “While our rivers have been irrigating enemy lands, our own farmers have suffered. This injustice will no longer continue,” he declared. “India‘s rightful share of the Indus waters will now be used for our farmers and our nation. Blood and water cannot flow together.”
PM Modi’s address marked a significant shift in tone on national security, as he underlined a more assertive stance against cross-border terrorism and reaffirmed India’s commitment to protecting its sovereignty and the lives of its citizens.
