Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday visited Air Force Station (AFS) Adampur in Punjab to meet and honour air warriors and soldiers who played a pivotal role in the recently concluded Operation Sindoor, a strategic counter-terrorism mission targeting terror infrastructure across the border.
The visit came just days after the operation was executed with clinical precision by the Indian armed forces. AFS Adampur was one of the active air bases during the operation. PM Modi’s arrival was met with enthusiastic chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram”, echoing across the base as personnel celebrated the mission’s success.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister shared his experience:
“Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation.”
Operation Sindoor was launched on 7 May in retaliation for a brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on 22 April, where 26 Indian tourists lost their lives.
Addressing the media on Monday, the Director-General of Air Operations, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, who oversaw the strikes, stressed that the mission was aimed solely at neutralising terrorist elements, not at provoking hostilities with the Pakistani armed forces or civilian population.
“Our fight is with the terrorists; it is not with the Pakistan military or Pakistani civilians. We are very clear in our targeting,” Air Marshal Bharti stated during a press briefing.
He also underscored the effectiveness of India’s air defence and countermeasures.
“Our counter-systems and trained air-defence operators are fully capable, and our indigenous capability has proved its worth. There is no need for excessive words—you have seen with your own eyes the consequences we have delivered,” he said.
In his national address following the operation, PM Modi reaffirmed India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting national security at all costs.
He added that Operation Sindoor follows in the footsteps of India’s previous strategic offensives—the surgical strikes and Balakot air strikes—and marks a new chapter in India’s assertive stance against terrorism.
The Prime Minister also emphasized that India would make no distinction between terrorist groups and the governments that support or harbor them. He reiterated that the Indian Army, Air Force, Navy, Border Security Force (BSF), and paramilitary forces remain in a heightened state of alert, ready to defend the nation against any future threats.
Operation Sindoor targeted multiple terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), using precise air and missile strikes to dismantle key insurgent infrastructure. The mission was widely praised for its strategic effectiveness and minimal collateral damage.
(With agencies inputs)