Dehradun/IBNS: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described Operation Sindoor as the biggest action taken against terrorism in Indian history, which was carried out in response to the terror attack on innocent people in Pahalgam, and urged international organisations to stop funding Pakistan, which provides 'safe havens' to terrorist.

Addressing an event in Dehradun on Tuesday, Singh urged the international community to stop foreign funding to Pakistan, saying that a large part of this financial aid is spent on terrorism.

“Funding Pakistan means funding the infrastructure of terrorism. Pakistan is a nursery of terrorism. It should not be nourished,” he added.

"In the last 11 years, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led Government has transformed India’s security apparatus by changing the attitude and the way of action towards every issue related to national security, and the world witnessed this shift during Operation Sindoor,” Singh said.

He said the Pahalgam incident was an attack on the social unity of the country, and India took strong action against terrorism and its perpetrators by destroying terror bases in Pakistan as well as PoK.

“Following the abrogation of Article 370, J&K heralded into the era of peace and progress. Our neighbors could not tolerate this, and executed the terror attack in Pahalgam. Despite Pakistan's best efforts, it has not been able to stop development in Kashmir. Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link is a shining example of the Government’s relentless pursuit of progress in J&K. Soon, PoK will join us and say ‘I, too, am Bharat’,” he said.

Singh asserted that while the Indian Armed Forces have given a befitting reply to terrorists, it is imperative to prevent terror incidents such as the one in Pahalgam in the future.

Describing terrorism as a distorted moral reasoning, he said the fight against terrorism is not just a question of security, it is a battle to protect the basic values of humanity.

Branding terrorism as an epidemic destined to perish, Singh called Pakistan the 'father of global terrorism'

“Terrorists are not fighters with a cause. No religious, ideological or political reason can justify terrorism. No human objective can ever be achieved through bloodshed and violence. India and Pakistan attained independence at the same time, but today, India has been recognised as the Mother of Democracy, while Pakistan has emerged as the father of global terrorism," he said.

"Pakistan has always given shelter to terrorists, trained them on its soil and helped them. It always tries to justify this menace. It is important that we eliminate these terrorists and their entire infrastructure,” Singh said.

He also expressed shock at the recent decision by the United Nations Security Council to name Pakistan as the Vice-Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Panel, especially when the panel was formed after the 9/11 terror attacks.

“Pakistan had sheltered the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. Its land has been used as a refuge for global terrorist organisations. There, terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar roam around openly, and senior officers of Pakistan Army attend the funerals of terrorists. Now, the same country is expected to lead the global community against terrorism. This raises serious questions on the intentions and policies of the international system,” he said.

He called upon the global community and organisations such as the United Nations to think on issues like terrorism more seriously, stating that “Only when we are free from terrorism, will we be able to move towards the goal of global peace, progress and prosperity.”

He added that the common people of Pakistan are of the same view, but the rulers there have put the country on the path of destruction.

Singh advised Pakistan to seek India’s help if it is unable to take action against terrorism on its soil.

He stated that the Indian Armed Forces are capable of taking effective action against terrorism on either side of the border, which was witnessed by Pakistan itself during Operation Sindoor.

Calling Pakistan stubborn, he termed it necessary for the whole world to put strategic, diplomatic and economic pressure on Islamabad to deal with terrorism emanating from its soil.