Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Operation Sindoor reflected India’s new military ethos and demonstrated the armed forces’ ability
May 8, 2026: Rajnath Singh on Friday described Operation Sindoor as a symbol of India’s collective resolve and evolving military doctrine, saying the operation compelled Pakistan to surrender. Addressing the Joint Commanders’ Conference, Singh said the “short-duration, deep-penetration, high-intensity and high-impact operation” showcased the Indian armed forces’ ability to respond swiftly and precisely in defence of national interests. The operation was launched on May 7, 2025, following the Pakistan-backed Pahalgam Attack that killed 26 people.
Singh urged military commanders to draw lessons from the four-day conflict with Pakistan and adapt to future warfare dominated by artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, cyber operations and information warfare. He stressed that future battles would increasingly involve hybrid threats and operations across cyber, space and cognitive domains. The Defence Minister also highlighted the importance of jointness among the armed forces, technological innovation and strategic surprise in maintaining an operational advantage over adversaries.
The conference was attended by top military leaders including Anil Chauhan, Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, Upendra Dwivedi and AP Singh. During the discussions, senior commanders reviewed future warfare strategies, indigenous defence technologies and AI-enabled combat concepts. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief of Army Staff Rajiv Ghai warned that there were “no safe havens” for terror groups in Pakistan anymore, while IAF Deputy Chief AK Bharti stated that when India acts, it does so with “no half measures.”