Pakistan might have split into 4 had Navy joined Operation Sindoor: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

Pakistan would have been divided into four parts if the Indian Navy had also been pressed into action during Operation Sindoor, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday, adding that if it tries another misadventure, the Navy could lead the opening assault.

“1971 is a witness to the fact that when the Indian Navy came into action, Pakistan was divided into two parts. If the Indian Navy had come into action in Op Sindoor, then Pakistan may have got divided into four parts,” the minister said, addressing Navy personnel from onboard the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier.

Singh said the Indian military actions were so strong that Pakistan pleaded for a ceasefire. “We stopped our military actions on our own terms. Our forces had not even started showing their might,” he said.

In his address from the indigenously developed platform, the minister also called on Pakistan to hand over wanted terrorists to India if it was serious about talks, adding that India would not hesitate to take any steps to eliminate terrorism.

“If Pakistan is serious about talks, it should hand over Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to India so that justice is served,” he said, adding that Op Sindoor is India’s frontal assault against terror and Pakistan could face the Navy’s firepower if another terror attempt is made. He also reiterated that talks with Pakistan would only focus on terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

“Now, if Pakistan instigates any terrorist act against India, it will have to bear the consequences and face defeat. India will not hesitate. It will use every method to root out the menace of terrorism,” he said.Singh added that during the operation, the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier group ensured that the Pakistani Navy did not dare to venture out, or else it would have faced the consequences. He said India’s western fleet ships were deployed at sea within 96 hours of the Pahalgam terror attack.