India’s armed forces “could have done a lot more” during Operation Sindoor but deliberately opted for a “restrained” response and did what was necessary, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday (Dec 07, 2025).
Mr. Singh, who inaugurated 125 strategically important infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organization (BRO) in various parts of the country, including the Shyok Tunnel in Ladakh, emphasized that the successful military operation was made possible by better connectivity, especially in the border areas.
“It has been our constant endeavor to strengthen our communication and connectivity with all border areas, including Ladakh. We are fully committed to the overall development of each border area,” the defense minister said in Leh.
Highlighting the growth of India’s defense manufacturing sector, he noted that production has grown from ₹ 46,000 crore in 2014 to a record ₹ 1.51 lakh crore and the country, which was dependent on imports, has become a producer and exporter.
“Just a few months ago, we witnessed our armed forces carrying out Operation Sindoor in response to the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam and the world knows what they did to the terrorists.
“Of course, we could have done a lot more if we wanted to, but our forces showed not only courage but also restraint and did only what was necessary,” Mr Singh said.
Emphasizing that such a massive operation was feasible due to strong connectivity, Mr. Singh said, “Our armed forces were able to deliver logistics just in time. Connectivity with border areas was also maintained, making Operation Sindoor a historic success.”
“During Operation Sindoor, the coordination we witnessed between our armed forces, the civil administration and the citizens of the border areas was incredible. I express my gratitude to all the citizens of Ladakh and the border areas for extending their support to our armed forces,” the defense minister said.
Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian armed forces on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Kashmir that left 26 people dead, mostly tourists.
The defense minister added that improved connectivity in border areas changes security in many ways and enables soldiers to operate more effectively in difficult terrains.
“Today, our soldiers stand strong in difficult terrains because they have access to roads, real-time communication systems, satellite support, surveillance networks and logistical connectivity,” said Mr. Singh.
He emphasized that better connectivity not only strengthens security and infrastructure, but also drives economic growth.
Referring to an 8.2% GDP expansion in the second quarter of 2025-26, Mr Singh said stronger communication and connectivity networks were a key factor underpinning the government’s pro-growth policies and nationwide reforms.
He said India once lacked a robust system for domestic production of arms and equipment, but has witnessed a paradigm shift due to sustained efforts in the last decade.
“Due to our hard work in the last 10 years, our defense production, which was around ₹ 46,000 crore in 2014, has now grown to a record ₹ 1.51 crore.
“Our defense exports, which were less than ₹1,000 crore 10 years ago, have now reached nearly ₹24,000 crore,” Mr Singh said.
He called the 125 newly completed BRO projects a “living example” of the government’s commitment to strengthen India’s border infrastructure.
These strategically important projects – built at a cost of ₹ 5,000 crore and spread across the Union Territories of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir and seven states including Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Mizoram – consisted of 28 roads and four different bridges. 93 bridges.
This event marked the biggest one-day and most valuable inauguration in the history of BRO.
Mr. Singh praised the BRO for consistently completing projects ahead of schedule and adopting new technologies in line with the government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Separate India).
He emphasized that stronger border connectivity not only enhances security, but also stabilizes local economies, improves disaster response – as seen during the rescue operations following the Jammu and Kashmir Chasoți cloudburst – and strengthens people’s faith in governance in remote regions.
He specifically mentioned that BRO has adopted 70 class modular bridges which were developed in collaboration with Garden Reach ships and engineers under the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India).
The Defense Minister also pointed out that in the financial year 2024–25, the BRO has incurred a record expenditure of ₹16,690 crore, the highest amount ever, and a target of ₹18,700 crore has been set for the fiscal year 2025–26, underscoring the government’s confidence in the BRO’s capabilities.
In the past two years, 356 BRO infrastructure projects have been dedicated to the nation, representing a comparative achievement in strategic infrastructure development, the official said.
Published – 07 Dec 2025 21:09 IST
