Rajnath Singh on Tuesday delivered a strong message against terrorism, stating that terror hubs will no longer remain beyond the reach of “justifiable punishment.” Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Defence Ministers' Meeting in Bishkek, he reflected on the recent anniversary of the deadly attack in Pahalgam.

He noted that on April 22, the nation paid tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam attack, calling it an incident that impacted not just a region but humanity as a whole. Linking the tragedy to India’s response, Singh emphasized a shift in strategy toward dealing with cross-border terrorism.

Referring to Operation Sindoor, he said India demonstrated its firm stance that those responsible for nurturing terrorism will face decisive consequences. His remarks came as the country marked one year since the attack that killed 26 civilians. On April 22, 2025, terrorists struck the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam, targeting a village and killing innocent civilians. The attackers, reportedly backed from across the border, allegedly identified victims based on religion before carrying out the killings, leaving lasting grief among families.

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. According to official sources, nine major terror launchpads linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen were destroyed, with over 100 terrorists reportedly eliminated.

The operation triggered a brief escalation, including drone strikes and shelling from Pakistan, leading to a four-day conflict. India responded with counter-strikes, damaging key radar installations in cities like Lahore. Eventually, a ceasefire was agreed upon on May 10 after communication between the Directors General of Military Operations of both countries. Operation Mahadev led to the elimination of three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack. Beyond military measures, India also suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and halted bilateral trade with Pakistan following the incident.