Bhuj, 16 May

India on Friday pressed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reconsider its USD one billion assistance to Pakistan, saying Islamabad could use a large part of it to fund the terrorist infrastructure.

In an address to air warriors at Gujarat's Bhuj Air Force station, Singh confirmed use of the 'BrahMos' supersonic missiles in the Operation Sindoor and said the weapon showed Pakistan the "light of day in the darkness of night".

Sending a clear and firm message to Islamabad, the defence minister made it clear that the operation is not yet over as the current ceasefire means that India has kept Pakistan on "probation" on the basis of its behaviour.

"If the behaviour improves, it is fine; but if there is any disturbance, harshest punishment will be given," he said.

"Our actions were just a trailer, we will show the full picture, if need be. Attacking and eliminating terrorism is the new normal of new India," he said.

Under Operation Sindoor, India on early 7 May destroyed nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack.

All subsequent retaliations by Pakistan were carried out under the operation. The two sides reached an understanding on cessation of hostilities on 10 May after four days of confrontations.

In his remarks, Singh said Pakistan has again started trying to rebuild the terror infrastructure destroyed by India last week and that Islamabad will "spend the collected from the common citizens of Pakistan to pay around Rs 14 crore to Masood Azhar, the head of the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad" and a UN designated terrorist.

The Bhuj air force base was one of the military installations that Pakistan targeted during the four-day confrontation between the two militaries.

Singh cautioned against providing financial support to Pakistan saying any such assistance would be no less than terror funding.

In its board meeting in Washington on 9 May, the IMF cleared a USD one billion tranche for Pakistan as part of its USD 7-billion funding programme for the country.

"The Pakistan government has announced financial assistance to rebuild the terror infrastructure of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed located in Muridke and Bahawalpur," Singh said.

"Certainly, a large part of IMF's USD one billion assistance will be used to fund the terror infrastructure. Will this not be considered indirect funding by IMF, an international organisation?"

He commended the "effective" role played by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Operation Sindoor which he said is being appreciated by the world.

Lauding the air warriors for eliminating the terror camps in Pakistan and PoK in just 23 minutes, he said "when missiles were dropped inside the enemy territory, the world heard the echoes of India's valour and might."