At least 100 terrorists killed: Rajnath

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday told an all-party meeting that at least 100 terrorists were killed when India struck terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under the still ongoing Operation Sindoor, sources said.

The defence minister also informed the leaders, who fully endorsed the government's military action and complimented the armed forces, that India will hit back if Pakistan attacks, they said.

Political leaders from parties, including the Congress, AIMIM, Trinamool Congress and the DMK, extended full cooperation to the government on the issue of national security.

"In the moment of crisis, we are with the government," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said after the meeting.

"The defence minister said this is a sensitive time and in the interest of the country, detailed questions are not to be asked," he said.

"Operation Sindoor claimed the lives of at least 100 terrorists. It is difficult to give an exact estimate as the operation is still ongoing and we are still collating the details. India will give a befitting reply if Pakistan attacks," a source at the meeting quoted Singh as saying in a suo motu statement.

Leaders’ maturity

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said leaders showed maturity and did not indulge in bickering at the meeting, presided over by Singh and convened to evolve a broad political consensus on the issue.

"The discussions were conducted in a constructive and serious manner given the gravity of the issue at hand. The defence minister briefed all leaders in detail about Operation Sindoor. Each leader expressed their views with responsibility and maturity, recognising the major challenge the country is currently facing," Rijiju said.

"Across party lines, political leaders said there is no place for politics in such critical times. All leaders unanimously congratulated our armed forces on the success of Operation Sindoor and assured their full support to the government, with no dissent whatsoever," he added.

Several valuable suggestions were also put forward during the meeting, held a day after Operation Sindoor, Rijiju said.

Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and BJP president J P Nadda attended the meeting.

Among the opposition leaders present were T R Baalu (DMK), Ram Gopal Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Sanjay Singh (AAP), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena-UBT, Supriya Sule (NCP-SP) and John Brittas (CPI-M).

Besides, JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha and Union minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan were also part of the meeting.

"I also said that we should run an international campaign against TRF and the UN Security Council should designate it as terror organisation. We also need to ask the United States to designate TRF as foreign terrorist organisation in the country.”

Asaduddin Owaisi, Chief, AIMIM

"Defence Minister said this is a sensitive time and in the interest of the country, detailed questions are not to be asked that are defence secrets. If a session is called, MPs can put forward their views and enhance the confidence of the people.”

Mallikarjun Kharge, President, Congress