NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday told Parliament that India ended its recent military confrontation with Pakistan only after achieving its key strategic goals, pushing back on claims of foreign pressure or mediation, especially from U.S. President Donald Trump. The four-day conflict, part of India’s Operation Sindoor, followed the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. The attack sparked widespread outrage across the country and led to increased calls for a decisive response.
Singh firmly denied suggestions that India called off Operation Sindoor due to pressure from the United States or any other foreign country. “To say that the operation was stopped under any pressure is baseless and completely incorrect,” he said in a heated session of the Lok Sabha. Although Trump has repeatedly claimed that he helped broker peace between India and Pakistan, Singh made it clear that the decision to end hostilities came only after India met all its political and military objectives. He did not directly name the U.S. President, but made his stance unmistakably clear.
The defense minister emphasized that Operation Sindoor was launched to destroy terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. According to Singh, the operation targeted nine sites known to harbor terrorists or their supporters. “The objective of this operation was to eliminate those terror nurseries that Pakistan had nurtured for years,” Singh said. He added that Indian forces acted decisively and were given a “free hand” to select and strike the targets.
Singh clarified that the operation was never about capturing territory or launching a broader war. Instead, the goal was to deliver justice to the victims of terrorism and send a clear message of zero tolerance. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was notably absent from Monday’s parliamentary session. The absence drew sharp criticism from the opposition, who had pushed for a special discussion on both the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
The debate began after months of opposition demands for answers on how the attackers crossed into India and whether the government could have prevented the assault. However, Singh’s speech offered little detail on the investigation or the security lapses that may have allowed the attackers to flee.
He made only a brief reference to the Pahalgam attack, calling it “inhuman and cowardly.” Singh said the attackers singled out their victims by religion, making the incident even more horrific. During his address, Singh dismissed concerns about military losses. He dodged specific questions about how many Rafale jets India may have lost. Instead, he focused on the success of the operation.
“If you want to ask something, ask whether Operation Sindoor was successful. The answer is yes,” he said. “Ask if the terrorists who wiped the sindoor off our sisters and daughters have been dealt with. The answer is yes.”
He also claimed that no Indian soldiers were harmed during the operation.
The defense minister criticized opposition leaders for focusing on what he described as “relatively small issues.” He urged them to consider the broader outcome rather than individual mishaps or unanswered questions.
“When the goals are big, our focus should not go to small issues,” Singh said. “Ultimately, the result matters.”
He compared the situation to a student taking an exam. “If a child scores good marks, that should matter more than whether their pencil broke,” he said.
The government has consistently maintained that the military conflict ended after the Pakistani Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) reached out to his Indian counterpart. Singh reinforced this narrative, insisting that India halted its operations only after fulfilling its objectives.
While the White House continues to claim that Trump used trade pressure to help end the conflict, India has denied any outside influence. The Indian government continues to stress that its actions were based solely on national interests and strategic success.
As tensions between India and Pakistan ease, the government stands firm on its narrative of self-determined victory. Singh’s statement in Parliament aimed to counter foreign claims and redirect domestic attention toward the achievements of Operation Sindoor.
