Rajnath Singh visits second military base, asks IMF to rethink aid to Pakistan

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Bhuj Air Force Station in Gujarat on Friday, where he made a strong statement against Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He said any financial aid given to Pakistan is the same as funding terrorism. The IMF has planned to give $1 billion to Pakistan, and Singh asked the body to reconsider its decision. He said Indian taxpayers contribute to such global organisations, and the money should not end up in the hands of terrorists.

Singh warned that Pakistan could use this money to support terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). He claimed that Pakistan would give around ₹14 crore to Masood Azhar, a UN-declared terrorist and head of JeM. He also said that the Pakistan government is helping rebuild the terror bases of LeT and JeM in Muridke and Bahawalpur.

This visit to Bhuj was Singh’s second visit to a military base in two days. Earlier, he had gone to the Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar. These visits came after India’s strong military response, called Operation Sindoor, to the terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22. In that attack, 25 Indian tourists and one local resident were killed.

In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7. The operation targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). It involved fighter jets, missiles, armed drones, artillery, and rocket launchers. On the night of May 9–10, the Indian Air Force attacked 13 military installations inside Pakistan. This led to four days of intense fighting between the two countries, which ended after both sides reached an understanding on May 11.

India’s new defence approach

Speaking in Bhuj, Singh said that fighting terrorism is now a central part of India’s defence strategy. He praised the Indian military’s role in Operation Sindoor and called it a message to the world. He said India has changed its way of fighting wars. He declared that India is now ready to hit back harder and faster if attacked.

Singh also warned Pakistan. He said Pakistan is under “probation” until May 18, meaning that India will wait to see if Pakistan stops supporting terrorism. If there are more attacks or any suspicious activity, Singh promised the “harshest punishment.” He said India would not stay silent anymore. “Our recent actions were just a trailer. We will show the full picture if needed,” he warned.

The defence minister also praised the Indian Air Force (IAF) for its bravery and success. He said when India’s missiles were dropped on enemy territory, it showed the world the power of the Indian military. He specifically praised the BrahMos missile and called it a symbol of India’s home-grown strength. He said, “This Made in India missile showed Pakistan the light of day in the darkness of night.”

Singh also talked about other Indian-made defence systems such as the Akash missile and radar technologies. He said these developments show how India is becoming self-reliant in defence manufacturing. According to him, India is now moving from being an importer to an exporter of defence products. “This is just the beginning,” he added.

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He said India’s air force is now capable of striking deep inside Pakistan without even crossing the international border. He said the success of recent attacks on terror camps and Pakistani military bases has shown that India’s defence strategies and technologies have evolved. “The world has seen how our Air Force destroyed terror camps and then went on to target Pakistani airbases. India is no longer fully dependent on foreign weapons. Made in India weapons are now part of our military strength,” Singh said.

The Defence Minister also praised India’s progress in building its own artillery, missile defence systems, drones, and anti-drone weapons. He said India’s defence sector is growing stronger and is ready to take on any threat. He described Bhuj as a historic place in India’s defence story. He said this area played a key role during the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan and recently saw Pakistani drones being intercepted by the Indian Army. He called Bhuj a land of bravery and patriotism.

Singh ended his speech by thanking the armed forces for their service and bravery. He promised full government support to strengthen the military. “A strong nation always respects and supports its army with resources and technology,” he said. Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and other top officers from the Indian Air Force were present with him during the visit.