PTI, May 15, 2025, SRINAGAR, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that any talks with Pakistan will only be on terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Singh, who is on his first visit to Kashmir after Operation Sindoor, said India will soon eradicate terrorism from the region with the help of the armed forces.
“Had a wonderful interaction with the brave Indian Army soldiers at the Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar. Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi has redefined India’s policy against terrorism, and any attack on Indian soil will be considered an act of war. Terrorism and talks cannot go together; talks with Pakistan will only be held on terrorism and PoK,” the Defence Minister posted on X after meeting soldiers at the Badami Bagh Cantonment.
He said the Union government and the people of the country stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the armed forces at every step, in every situation. Singh also expressed confidence that with the cooperation of the military, India will soon eradicate terrorism from the region, “so that no one dares to cast an evil eye on the sovereignty of the nation.”
During his visit, the Defence Minister paid homage to the civilians killed in the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, as well as to the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for the country during Operation Sindoor. He also commended the courage of the injured soldiers and wished them a speedy recovery.
Expressing gratitude to the soldiers for the cross-border strikes, Singh said, “I come here today with a message from the people of India — ‘We are proud of our forces’.” He also reiterated the government’s commitment to continue equipping the forces with advanced weapons, platforms, and modern infrastructure.
The Defence Minister on Thursday also suggested that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should be brought under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as they are not safe in the hands of a rogue nation.
Singh’s comments came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India would not tolerate “nuclear blackmail” by Pakistan and would respond strongly to cross-border terrorism.
Shortly after landing in Srinagar on his first trip to Jammu and Kashmir since Operation Sindoor, Singh emphasized the strength of India’s resolve against terrorism, stating that it has not even paid heed to Pakistan’s nuclear threats.
“The whole world has seen how irresponsibly Pakistan has issued nuclear threats to India several times,” he said while interacting with troops.
“Today, from the land of Srinagar, I want to raise this question before the whole world: Are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such an irresponsible and rogue nation?” Singh asked.
