In a landmark speech at the 22nd Investiture Ceremony of the Border Security Force (BSF), Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared Operation Sindoor a defining moment in India’s counterterrorism narrative, asserting that it irrefutably demonstrated Pakistan’s direct role in sponsoring terrorism on Indian soil. Conducted in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead, the operation saw India neutralize nine terror camps through precision strikes while deliberately avoiding civilian or military Pakistani infrastructure. Shah praised the BSF’s unwavering vigilance and reiterated India’s commitment to national security through proactive, proportionate, and international-law-aligned defense measures.
Operation Sindoor: A Strategic Counteroffensive
Operation Sindoor, executed on May 7, 2025, represents one of India’s most targeted responses to cross-border terrorism in recent years. It followed the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, in which 26 civilians were killed after being reportedly profiled based on religion—an act that shocked the conscience of the nation and provoked urgent demands for accountability and justice.
According to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Indian armed forces carried out the retaliatory strikes with surgical precision, destroying nine terror launchpads situated across the border. These strikes were focused exclusively on terror infrastructure, carefully avoiding civilian areas, Pakistani military installations, and air bases. This strategy, Shah noted, demonstrated both moral restraint and strategic clarity, setting a global benchmark in counterterror operations.
Exposing State-Sponsored Terrorism
At the heart of Minister Shah’s address was a pointed message: that Operation Sindoor did not merely dismantle terrorist bases—it dismantled a narrative. “We targeted terrorists, but it was Pakistan that responded, proving that these operations were under its direct patronage,” Shah stated during the Rustamji Memorial Lecture. His remarks emphasized that India’s intelligence-led operations had uncovered the depth of Pakistan’s involvement in orchestrating terror attacks on Indian soil.
By responding to India’s anti-terror strike with conventional military posturing, Pakistan, according to Shah, inadvertently acknowledged its complicity in nurturing and shielding non-state actors. This reaction, he argued, served to bolster India's diplomatic position globally, drawing support from international observers who have long urged greater transparency and accountability in South Asia's regional security dynamics.
BSF's Role in National Security and Regional Legacy
The event, held in New Delhi, was also an occasion to honor the legacy and sacrifices of the Border Security Force, India’s frontline defense along its western and eastern borders. Founded in 1965 under the leadership of K.F. Rustamji, the BSF has grown into the world’s largest dedicated border-guarding force, comprising approximately 2.75 lakh personnel.
Minister Shah lauded the BSF’s pivotal role in not just border surveillance but also in nation-building, recalling its contributions during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. “Bangladesh should never forget the BSF’s instrumental support in its formation,” he said, highlighting the enduring impact of regional alliances and the force’s historical significance beyond current operational duties.
Over the past six decades, more than 2,000 BSF personnel have made the ultimate sacrifice. Shah paid homage to their courage, emphasizing that their unwavering patriotism continues to serve as a benchmark for all branches of India’s armed services.
Policy Continuity in National Defense
Shah also linked Operation Sindoor to a continuum of assertive defense policies initiated by the BJP-led government since 2014. Following the 2016 Uri attack, India conducted its first publicized surgical strike. In 2019, after the Pulwama suicide bombing, the Indian Air Force executed an airstrike in Balakot—both representing calibrated responses to terror threats.
Operation Sindoor, Shah explained, fits into this strategic doctrine: a clear message that India will not absorb unprovoked aggression passively. Each action has been shaped by specific provocations, underpinned by real-time intelligence, and executed in a manner that maintains credibility while adhering to international norms.
A Message to the World
Minister Shah concluded his speech with a note of global outreach: "The world is appreciating us for this," he said, pointing to growing international support for India's anti-terror stance. At a time when geopolitical alliances are under flux and global terrorism remains a persistent threat, India's actions under Operation Sindoor have added to its moral and strategic capital.
Through this operation and the BSF's continuous vigilance, India has reaffirmed its position as a sovereign state committed to peace but unwilling to compromise on the safety and dignity of its people.
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