"Our response was so strong that their airbases are still in ICU...Pakistan started waving white flag": PM Modi in Bhuj

Bhuj, (Gujarat) [India], May 26 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India's response to Pakistani aggression following Operation Sindoor was so strong that its airbases "are still in ICU" and Islamabad started waving the white flag due to the valour of the Indian Armed Forces.
Addressing the gathering here after launching development projects, PM Modi said India had made its intention clear of giving strong punishment to terrorists in response of Pahalgam terror attack and Pakistan should have stayed quiet.
PM Modi said as Pakistan made the mistake of launching an aggression, it has to deal with the consequences.
He said people have seen the 1971 war but this time Pakistan was shaking.
"Our retaliation was so strong that their airbases are still in ICU...Pakistan was forced to take shelter, Pakistan felt it cannot escape as India is responding with force. It was the valour and bravery of our forces that Pakistan started waving the white flag... We had already told them, our target was your terror infrastructure; all you had to do was stay quiet. Now that you made a mistake, you have to deal with the consequences," he said.
Operation Sindoor was launched early on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pak-sponsored terrorists in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists.
India repelled subsequent Pakistan aggression and pounded its airbases.
India and Pakistan have agreed to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan's DGMO to his Indian counterpart.
In a strong message to Pakistan over its support to cross-border terrorism, PM Modi said the people of the neighbouring country need to realise that such an approach is destroying their children's future and that if a path of peace is not pursued, India knows how to deal with it.
Addressing a gathering in this border district, PM Modi said the government and military in Pakistan have made terrorism a business -- a source of income at the cost of lives of people of the country and their future.
He said it is up to the people of Pakistan to decide if the path chosen by their government "is the path you want for your future?"
"Sukh chain ki zindagi jiyo, roti khao....warna meri goli to hai hi (live a life of peace and happiness, have your meals...otherwise my bullet is there," he said.
The Prime Minister urged people of Pakistan to recognize the reality of their situation. He cautioned that their government and military actively support terrorism, using it as a means to generate revenue.
He called upon the people of Pakistan to reflect on whether this path is truly in their best interests. He highlighted that power-driven agendas are putting Pakistani lives at risk and pushing their children's future into darkness. The Prime Minister underscored that if Pakistan is to rid itself of the scourge of terrorism, its people must take a stand and contribute to its eradication.
PM Modi also contrasted Pakistan's economy, which has been seeking IMF bailouts, with that of India which is on course to becoming the third largest economy in the world in the next few years.
"From the sacred land of Kutch, I also want to address the citizens of Pakistan: what have you really gained? Look at the condition you are living in. Ask yourselves -- who destroyed your children's future? It is terrorism," he said.
PM Modi said Pakistan army runs its own agenda and children of Pakistan must know the truth.
He said it is up to the people of Pakistan to decide if the path chosen by their government "is the path you want for your future?
"Your army runs its own agenda. Your government and military have made terrorism a business -- a source of income at the cost of your lives and your future. The children of Pakistan must know the truth -- that their suffering is the result of a system that fuels terror instead of building a nation. Now, it is up to the people of Pakistan to decide: Is this the path you want for your future?" he asked.
"Pakistan made the mistake of attacking Kutch with drones, as Modi is from Gujarat. But they forgot -- this is the land where, in 1971, our brave Nari Shakti built an airstrip in just 72 hours," PM Modi said.
He said India targeted only the terrorist camps with precision under Opreration Sindoor but Pakistan resorted to aggression.
PM Modi laid the foundation stone, inaugurated and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 53,400 crore in Bhuj, Gujarat today.
Addressing the gathering, he extended heartfelt greetings to the people of Kutch and paid deep respects to revolutionaries and martyrs, particularly the great freedom fighter Shri Shyamji Krishna Varma. The Prime Minister conveyed his regards to the sons and daughters of Kutch, acknowledging their resilience and contributions.
Reflecting on his deep connection with Kutch, PM Modi recalled his frequent visits across the district and emphasized how the land had shaped his life's direction. He remarked that while living conditions have improved significantly, the past presented considerable challenges. He also recalled how fortunate he was when the waters of River Narmada reached the Kutch region.
Even before assuming the role of Chief Minister, he often visited Kutch, engaging in various programs at the district office. PM Modi also highlighted the unwavering determination of the farmers in Kutch, noting that their spirit has always been remarkable.
He stated that his years of experience in the region greatly contributed to his efforts toward its development. (ANI)