Rajnath Singh warns Pakistan against misadventure in Sir Creek, says response will be decisive

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday warned Pakistan that any misadventure in the Sir Creek sector would invite a “decisive response” strong enough to alter both “history and geography”.

Singh’s remarks at a military base near the India-Pakistan border in Bhuj came amid reports of Islamabad expanding military infrastructure in the disputed region.

Celebrating Dussehra with soldiers, the minister performed ‘shastra puja’ (worship of weapons) and also virtually inaugurated a tidal berthing facility and a joint control centre to boost coastal security and rapid response capability.

“If Pakistan dares to act in the Sir Creek sector, the reply will be so strong that it will change both history and geography. In 1965, the Indian Army reached Lahore; in 2025, Pakistan must remember the road to Karachi also passes through the creek,” Singh said.

Sir Creek, a 96-km tidal estuary between Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch and Pakistan, remains disputed due to differing interpretations of the maritime boundary. Singh noted that despite India’s repeated attempts at dialogue, Pakistan continues to create disputes over the sector even after 78 years of independence.

The defence minister also lauded the armed forces for the success of Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in May. The strikes exposed Pakistan’s air defence vulnerabilities, he said, while underlining that India’s aim was to counter terrorism, not escalate into war.

“Pakistan tried to penetrate our defences from Leh to Sir Creek, but the swift counter-action of our forces sent a clear message that India can inflict heavy damage at a time, place and manner of its choosing,” he said.

Singh praised the jointness of the Army, Navy and Air Force in executing the operation in record time and reiterated that India will continue its fight against terrorism with full resolve.

On the occasion of Dussehra, he described ‘shastra puja’ as a reflection of India’s civilisational ethos, stressing that weapons are regarded as instruments of righteousness rather than violence. “The balance of ‘shaastra’ (knowledge) and ‘shastra’ (weapons) keeps our civilisation vibrant and invincible,” he said. Extending Vijayadashami greetings, Singh said the festival serves as a reminder that righteousness always prevails over evil.