New Delhi, May 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged citizens to change social media display pictures as a mark of respect for armed forces.

The Prime Minister saluted the courage, precision and resolve of the armed forces on the completion of one year of Operation Sindoor.

The Prime Minister said that the armed forces had given a fitting response to those who dared to attack innocent Indians at Pahalgam.

PM Modi said that Operation Sindoor reflected India’s firm response against terrorism and its unwavering commitment to safeguarding national security.

The Prime Minister noted that the operation highlighted the professionalism, preparedness and coordinated strength of the armed forces.

He said that it showcased the growing jointness among the forces and underlined the strength that India’s quest for self-reliance in the defence sector has brought to national security.

PM Modi reiterated that India remains steadfast in its resolve to defeat terrorism and destroy its enabling ecosystem.

He said that during Operation Sindoor, the armed forces showcased their valour and gave a firm response to those who attacked the people of India. He said that every Indian is proud of the armed forces.

As a mark of respect to the armed forces and their success during Operation Sindoor, the Prime Minister urged citizens to change their display pictures on social media platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, to the picture shared by him.

The Prime Minister posted on X: “A year ago, our armed forces displayed unparalleled courage, precision and resolve during #OperationSindoor. They gave a fitting response to those who dared to attack innocent Indians at Pahalgam. The entire nation salutes our forces for their valour. Operation Sindoor reflected India’s firm response against terrorism and an unwavering commitment to safeguarding national security. It also highlighted the professionalism, preparedness and coordinated strength of our armed forces. At the same time, it showcased the growing jointness among our forces and underlined the strength that India’s quest for self-reliance in the defence sector has brought to our national security. Today, a year later, we remain as steadfast as ever in our resolve to defeat terrorism and destroy its enabling ecosystem.A year ago, during #OperationSindoor, our armed forces showcased their valour and gave a firm response to those who attacked our people. Every Indian is proud of our armed forces. As a mark of respect to our forces and their success during #OperationSindoor, let us all change our display pictures on social media, including X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to the picture shared below.”

PTI adds to the report

PM Modi, ministers, BJP leaders change social media DPs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday changed the display pictures on his social media handles to mark one year of Operation Sindoor and asked everyone to do the same as a mark of respect to the armed forces and their success.

All Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and S Jaishankar, besides BJP president Nitin Nabin and other party leaders, also changed their profile pictures on their social media handles, marking the one year of Operation Sindoor.

The profile picture of Modi on his handles on X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp channels have been changed to an image with the text ‘Operation Sindoor’ on a black background. The picture has a tricolour, with one of the ‘O’s of ‘SINDOOR’ filled with ‘sindoor’ (vermilion) — a symbol of married Hindu women.

In a post on X, the prime minister said a year ago, during Operation Sindoor, the Indian armed forces showcased their valour and gave a firm response to those who attacked people and every Indian is proud of the country’s armed forces.

“As a mark of respect to our forces and their success during #OperationSindoor, let us all change our display pictures on social media, including X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to the picture shared below,” he said, referring to the image he uploaded on his social media handles.

Operation Sindoor was carried out by the three defence forces along with the BSF along the western border, targeting terrorist and military facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir from May 7-10 last year.

The operation was carried out in retaliation to last year’s April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in which 25 tourists, all Hindu men, and a tourist guide were killed.

Defence Minister Singh, while updating his profile photo on X, said Operation Sindoor stands as a “powerful symbol” of national resolve and preparedness, with their actions reflecting unmatched precision and setting a “benchmark” for modern military operations.

“On the anniversary of Operation Sindoor, we salute the valour and sacrifices of our armed forces, whose courage and dedication continue to safeguard the nation. Their actions during the operation reflected unmatched precision, seamless jointness and deep synergy across services, setting a benchmark for modern military operations,” he wrote.

“Operation Sindoor stands as a powerful symbol of national resolve and preparedness, showing that our armed forces are always ready to act decisively when it matters most. It also stands testament to India’s steady advance towards achieving #Atmanirbharta, enhancing capability while reinforcing resilience,” he added.

Home Minister Shah, in a post on X, said Operation Sindoor stands as an epochal mission of India that will always remind our enemies of the infallible striking power of our armed forces.

“History will remember it as the day of the precise striking power of our armed forces, meticulous intelligence of our agencies and resolute political will rising together as one to destroy each and every address of terror across the border that dared to cast an evil shadow on our citizens at Pahalgam,” he said.

“This day will continue to bring the dreadful message to our enemies that no matter where they hide, they cannot escape. They are always within our sight and the fierce wrath of our firepower,” the home minister said, adding, “On this day, I salute the unparalleled valour of our forces.”

Jaishankar, too, changed his profile picture and posted an image of the Operation Sindoor logo on his timeline.

Nabin said Operation Sindoor stands as a symbol of the nation’s self-respect, justice and unwavering resolve.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India reduced to dust those terrorists who wiped off the ‘sindoor’ of our sisters and sent a clear message that the ‘New India’ knows how to deliver a decisive response to every injustice,” the BJP chief said in a post on X in Hindi.

This glorious saga of victory serves as a final warning to those forces that dare to challenge India’s integrity, Nabin said.

“On the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, we offer our deepest salutations to the indomitable courage, valour and unwavering resolve of our brave security forces in defence of the nation,” the BJP president added.

New Delhi, May 07: Foreign ministers from Russia, Egypt, South Africa and several other member nations have confirmed their participation in a high-level BRICS ministerial meeting to be hosted by India on May 14–15. The meeting is expected to deliberate on the evolving security situation in the Middle East, the deepening global energy crisis and a range of other pressing international issues.

So far, representatives from Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Indonesia, Egypt and Ethiopia have confirmed their attendance, while other member countries are also expected to participate in the crucial gathering.

The meeting will be chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi is likely to lead Tehran’s delegation. Mr. Jaishankar recently held telephonic talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and invited him to attend the meeting. However, Tehran has not yet officially confirmed Araghchi’s participation.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is also expected to skip the meeting due to the scheduled visit of U.S. President Donald Trump to Beijing. China is, however, expected to be represented by a deputy foreign minister.

The ministerial meet is likely to mark the first occasion on which officials from Iran and the United Arab Emirates will come face to face since the outbreak of the Iran conflict on February 28. India has extended invitations to all BRICS member states for what officials describe as an important diplomatic engagement.

India is chairing BRICS this year and will host the ministerial meeting ahead of the BRICS Summit scheduled for September. BRICS serves as a major platform for consultation and cooperation on global political, economic and security issues. The grouping currently comprises 11 countries — Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

The upcoming meeting is expected to focus on regional stability, disruptions in global oil supply chains, maritime security, terrorism, food security and rising geopolitical tensions affecting the global economy. Participating nations are also likely to discuss strengthening multilateral cooperation and exploring coordinated measures to address emerging international challenges.

Jaipur, May 07: Operation Sindoor signalled that no terror sanctuary is safe in Pakistan and the mission was just the beginning, the Indian military said on Thursday as it commemorated the first anniversary of the multi-domain combat campaign.

The heads of military operations of the Indian Air Force, Navy and the Indian Army addressed a press conference in Jaipur detailing various aspects of the operation that was billed as India’s most expansive combat mission in half a century to punish Pakistan for its support to cross-border terrorism.

“Operation Sindoor was not an end and it was just the beginning,” Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, who played a key role in executing the operation in his capacity as the Army’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), said.

Ghai said Operation Sindoor saw India very coherently go beyond its erstwhile methods to target terror infrastructure across the Line of Control and international boundary with Pakistan.

It was a statement of resolve, responsibility and strategic restraint by our nation, he noted, adding it was executed with precision, proportionality and clarity of purpose. “India will defend its sovereignty, its security, and its people decisively, professionally and with the utmost responsibility,” Ghai said.

Operation Sindoor signalled that no terror sanctuary in Pakistan is safe, he said.

We planned, executed and concluded a complex multi-domain operation in a remarkably compressed timeframe, he said.

Air Marshal A K Bharti, the then Director General of Air Operations, said Operation Sindoor reaffirmed primacy of air power.

In response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 last year, carrying out airstrikes on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The action triggered a rapid escalation in tensions with Pakistan launching retaliatory strikes, though most of them were thwarted by the Indian military.

The hostilities ended with an understanding on halting the military actions on May 10 following talks over the hotline between army officials of the two sides.