Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on Friday, lauding its pivotal role in Operation Sindoor and reinforcing India’s growing maritime strength. The carrier, armed with MiG-29K fighter jets, served as a strategic deterrent during the recent conflict, playing a key role in compelling Pakistan to avoid escalation.
Speaking aboard the warship, Singh praised the Navy’s silent strength and unwavering commitment to national security. “Today I have come here not only as the Defence Minister, but as a grateful Indian,” he said. “I have come to salute your dedication, appreciate your valour and salute your hard work.”
Calling INS Vikrant a “symbol of indomitable courage and unconquerable power,” Singh emphasized the ship’s central role in India’s evolving defence posture. “The Indian Navy is not just the sentinel of the Indian Ocean but a strategic force that reinforces India’s presence in the Indo-Ocean region,” he said. “India is no longer just a regional power — we are steadily moving towards becoming a global power.”
Referring directly to the post-Pahalgam conflict with Pakistan, Singh warned of a stronger Indian naval response in case of future provocations. “During Operation Sindoor, the Indian Navy impressed every Indian with its silent service. Pakistan did not face our Navy’s firepower this time — but if it repeats any unholy act, next time the opening may well be made by our Navy.”
Using a powerful oceanic metaphor, the minister added, “Pakistan should remember — our Navy may appear calm like the ocean, but it also has the strength to unleash a tsunami.”
On terrorism, Singh delivered a direct message to Islamabad. “Pakistan would do well to uproot the nurseries of terrorism on its soil and hand over wanted terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to India. Both are designated global terrorists by the UN. If Pakistan is truly serious about dialogue, it must prove so by delivering justice,” he asserted.
He also highlighted the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, as a sign of international cooperation and a step forward in ensuring accountability for terror.
Singh’s visit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, where India’s assertive maritime presence is gaining increasing strategic significance. The message from the deck of INS Vikrant was clear: India’s Navy stands ready, vigilant, and formidable in its resolve.
