In a resounding display of resolve during Dussehra celebrations at a military base near Bhuj, Gujarat, on October 2, 2025, India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered a stern warning to Pakistan against any aggressive posturing in the disputed Sir Creek region. Addressing soldiers after performing the traditional 'shastra puja'—a ritual worship of weapons symbolizing the triumph of good over evil—Singh emphasized that any such provocation would elicit a "resounding response" capable of altering "both history and geography." This pointed message, rooted in India's historical military prowess, such as the 1965 war's advance toward Lahore, underscored that a direct route to Karachi runs through the creek, serving as a potent reminder of India's strategic capabilities.
The Sir Creek dispute, a 96-km-long tidal estuary along the Gujarat-Pakistan border in the Rann of Kutch, has simmered for nearly eight decades since India's independence, fueled by divergent interpretations of maritime boundaries that hold vast implications for offshore resource rights and territorial claims. Singh highlighted India's repeated diplomatic overtures for resolution, lamenting Pakistan's "flawed and unclear" intentions, evidenced by recent military infrastructure expansions in adjacent areas. He affirmed that the Indian Army and Border Security Force remain ever-vigilant, safeguarding the nation's frontiers with unwavering determination. This escalation in rhetoric comes amid ongoing border sensitivities, positioning Sir Creek as a flashpoint that could unravel fragile bilateral ties.
Central to Singh's address was the triumphant recounting of Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, in retaliation to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. The precision strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories, triggering four days of intense cross-border clashes that concluded on May 10 with a mutual ceasefire understanding.
Singh revealed that Pakistan's futile attempt to breach India's defenses—from Leh to Sir Creek—was decisively thwarted, with Indian forces exposing vulnerabilities in the adversary's air defense systems and demonstrating the capacity to inflict "heavy losses" at will. Yet, he stressed India's deliberate restraint, clarifying that the operation's objectives—curtailing cross-border terrorism—were met without intent to ignite full-scale war, though the nation's anti-terrorism campaign persists unabated.
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Praising the seamless integration of India's armed forces, Singh hailed the Army, Air Force, and Navy as the "three pillars" of national strength, crediting their joint operations for the swift success of Operation Sindoor. "It was the jointness of our armed forces that executed Operation Sindoor in record time," he noted, extending congratulations to the brave personnel whose "strategy, courage, and capability" affirm India's invincibility against any foe. This emphasis on inter-service synergy aligns with the government's broader push for enhanced coordination, vital in an era of multifaceted threats. Singh's annual tradition of 'shastra puja', continued from his days as Home Minister, reframes weaponry not as mere instruments of power but as sacred tools for upholding righteousness and justice.
As Dussehra symbolizes the victory of dharma over adharma, Singh's words resonate as a clarion call for deterrence and preparedness, reinforcing India's commitment to sovereignty amid regional volatility. The minister's assurance of unyielding protection for the nation's integrity instills confidence in the ranks, while serving as a diplomatic signal to Islamabad: aggression will be met with overwhelming force. With Sir Creek's unresolved status continuing to cast shadows over Indo-Pak relations, this address not only bolsters military morale but also spotlights the imperative for genuine dialogue to avert escalation, ensuring peace through strength in a geopolitically charged neighborhood.
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