Defense Minister Rajnath Singh pays tribute to the fallen soldiers of the 1999 Kargil War on the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations, at Drass, in Ladakh. (@SpokespersonMoD/X via PTI Photo)Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday that no talks with Pakistan are in the offing, and that even if there were to be talks, they would only be about Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK).“Our intention is clear. There will be no talks with Pakistan,” Singh said in his speech on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras. “If talks happen, they will happen only regarding POK, which is a part of India illegally occupied by Pakistan,” he said.Twenty-seven years after the Indian Army forced Pakistan to withdraw from the Kargil peaks it had occupied, the Defence Minister warned the neighbouring country against any “misadventure”.https://images.indianexpress.com/2026/07/rajnath-on-kargil-vijay-diwas.mp4“India will respond harshly and with the same strategic approach in case of a misadventure by Pakistan,” Singh said, referring to last year’s Operation Sindoor, in which Indian forces struck terrorist targets in Pakistan and POK in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. “I want to give a clear message. Every nefarious act aimed at undermining India’s sovereignty will face the same fate,” he added.Must Read | Military Digest | Haze on Kargil lapses, skewed view on intrusions persistAccusing Pakistan of institutionalising terrorism as a state policy, Singh said that while India is progressing through innovation and technology, Pakistan continues to promote terrorism, radicalisation and infiltration.“India is giving software to the world, while Pakistan is giving (terrorist) sleeper cells to the world. India is building data centres and Pakistan is building radical centres. India is connecting the world through UPI, while Pakistan is connecting terrorism through hawala. In other words, our paths are different…,” he said, adding, “India is building a start-up ecosystem and Pakistan is building a terror ecosystem. India is making semiconductors while Pakistan is preparing suicide bombers. India is known for space missions and Pakistan is running proxy missions. India is sending satellites into space while Pakistan is still engaged in sending terrorists across borders.”Also Read | Operation Vijay: The Regimental Medical Officer who chose to return to actionThe Defence Minister also said India would no longer distinguish between terrorists and their support structure.Story continues below this ad“Pakistan has now made terrorism a part of its government policy. The distinction between the military and militants there has been erased. The Army there not only provides protection to terrorist organisations but also works hand in hand with them,” he said. “Therefore, during Operation Sindoor itself, we made it clear that India would no longer see terrorists and the governments that nurture them as separate.”Paying tribute to the soldiers killed during the Kargil war, the Defence Minister said that Kargil was not just a military victory but also a diplomatic victory for India and a defining moment that showcased “courage, determination and sacrifices” of the soldiers.Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More Tags:Kargil Vijay Diwasrajnath singh