New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Adampur air base in Punjab on Monday morning carried significant symbolic and strategic weight, coming on the heels of Operation Sindoor. The operation itself, according to reports, successfully targeted key terrorist infrastructure across the border, resulting in the elimination of dozens of terrorists. PM Modi’s address to the air warriors at Adampur served as a powerful demonstration of India’s military capabilities and resolve.
The choice of Adampur, a strategically vital air base with a history of involvement in past conflicts, including the 1965, 1971 wars and the Kargil conflict, was not accidental. The base’s significance was underscored by the visible presence of advanced military assets like the S-400 air defence system and Rafale fighter jets in the background of Modi’s address. This visual display countered recent Pakistani claims regarding the destruction of Indian air bases.
Modi’s speech focused on several key themes. He praised the swift and effective response of the Indian armed forces during Operation Sindoor, highlighting the role of technology and indigenous equipment in achieving a decisive victory. The Prime Minister’s remarks indicated a shift towards a more assertive and technologically driven approach to national security. He explicitly addressed Pakistan’s nuclear bluff and information warfare tactics, asserting that India’s military strength and preparedness would deter any form of aggression.
The Prime Minister’s interaction with the air warriors, characterised as warm and personal, served to boost morale and demonstrate his direct involvement in strategic military decisions. His statement, “Goli ka jawab goley se milega” (bullet for bullet), suggested a change in India’s defence doctrine, shifting towards punitive deterrence rather than proportional response. This indicates a strong warning to Pakistan, implying that any future act of terror will face a disproportionate retaliatory response.
In essence, the Prime Minister’s visit to Adampur airbase was not merely a symbolic gesture but a powerful communication of India’s resolve, military readiness, and the changed paradigm for dealing with Pakistan, restricting future dialogue solely to issues of terrorism and the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The message was clear: India will not tolerate cross-border terrorism and is fully prepared to respond decisively to any future aggression.
