Op Sindoor is ongoing; 100 terrorists killed, all parties told, say sources

Operation Sindoor: At the all-party meeting, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said 100 terrorists were killed in 'precise' attacks on nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. (News Agency)- Union Minister Kiren Rijiju asserted that Operation Sindoor was still on, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told an all-party meeting that 100 terrorists were killed in the strikes on Pakistani terror camps on Wednesday, sources said. This is the first time that the government has confirmed the death toll in the cross-border strikes.
Speaking to reporters after the all-party meeting, Rijiju said, "The Defence Minister informed leaders that this was an ongoing operation, hence can't give a technical briefing."On Thursday, a series of loud explosions were heard in Pakistan's Lahore and some other cities, local media and Reuters reported. The government has not commented on the incident.
Rijiju said leaders cutting across party lines unanimously congratulated the armed forces on the success of Operation Sindoor and assured their full support to the government.
"Each leader expressed their views with responsibility and maturity, recognising the major challenge the country is currently facing... The Defence Minister said, 'We don't form the government just to rule'," Rijiju said.
INSIDE SCOOP ON ALL-PARTY MEET
Meanwhile, at the all-party meeting, Rajnath Singh said 100 terrorists were killed in "precise" attacks on nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). However, he clarified that India wouldn't back down if Pakistan retaliated."About 100 terrorists were killed. There is no concrete information yet. The counting is still on. We do not want to escalate the matter. If Pakistan does so, we will not back down either," Singh told the all-party meeting, according to sources.
In response to Operation Sindoor, the Pakistani army opened artillery fire along the Line of Control in the Poonch-Rajouri area, killing 15 civilians.
Sources said while Rajnath spoke for 5 minutes, other leaders were given 4-5 minutes each to share their views. While the opposition were fulsome in their praise of the armed forces and backed the government, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The issue of the Prime Minister's absence was also raised by the Aam Aadmi Party and the Samajwadi Party.
Sources said Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi also extended full support to the government. "We are here together and, from the beginning, we have been with the government," Gandhi said at the meeting.
Even though PM Modi didn't attend the meeting, he sent a message to the opposition: Every Indian citizen needs to stand united.