By BD Narayankar Bengaluru, May 14 (Reporter) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the frontline Adampur Airbase has dealt a direct blow to Pakistan's propaganda machinery and sent a powerful message of India's military preparedness and strategic autonomy, Defence expert and former Navy officer Commander GJ Singh (Retd) said here on Wednesday. Calling Adampur the "No. 1 strategically-located airbase" in India, Cmdr Singh said it plays a key role in forward operations, being less than 100 km from the Pakistan border. "This base houses frontline MiG-29 fighters and S-400 air defence systems, and is often used to launch precision operations targeting Pakistan. By landing at Adampur, the PM has not only dismissed Pakistani claims of its destruction, but also reasserted our operational dominance," he told UNI in an interview. "Recent Pakistani propaganda falsely claimed that Adampur had been destroyed. But now, the world can see the Prime Minister landing there safely, with undamaged MiG-29s and S-400 systems visible in footage. There's not even a scratch. Pakistan couldn't even get close, their missiles may have been intercepted between Jalandhar and Amritsar," he noted. The former Navy officer, recalling how Pakistani jets had attacked Adampur during the 1965 war, said the Prime Minister's presence at the airbase is a major morale booster for the armed forces. "In my school days, I saw Pakistani aircraft trying to target this base. Today, our Prime Minister is standing there addressing airmen, it sends a powerful message to Pakistan and the global community," he said. Calling the visit a reflection of the PM’s leadership style, Cmdr Singh said, "He is a perfectionist who always visits jawans on festivals and important occasions. His presence uplifts the morale of the entire armed forces." Reacting to former US President Donald Trump’s assertion that he brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, Cmdr Singh said India had categorically rejected any form of third-party mediation and acted out of strategic restraint, not weakness. "The Prime Minister has made it abundantly clear that India does not welcome or require any third-party involvement in its bilateral issues with Pakistan,” Cmdr Singh. "Trump's claim that he brokered peace is unfounded. It was, in fact, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of Pakistan who initiated the request for halting military operations." He said the Indian leadership responded with compassion, choosing to de-escalate tensions despite having the upper hand. "Had India continued its operations, Pakistan would have suffered extensive losses. But as a responsible power, India agreed to halt, not under pressure, but by choice," he added. Dismissing the Opposition's criticism over Trump’s remarks, Cmdr Singh said the government’s response was mature, well-calibrated and in keeping with India’s long-standing policy of bilateralism. "The Opposition is making an issue out of nothing. The decision taken by the Centre was logical, balanced and deeply thought-out. It reflects a high degree of strategic maturity," he said. The retired Navy officer also said that India’s restraint should not be mistaken for weakness. "India has the capability to inflict significant damage, but our policy has always been to promote regional stability. The PM’s approach reflects that doctrine." He welcomed the decision to halt operations, saying, "India does not seek Pakistan’s destruction. On the contrary, our position has always been that peace and development in the subcontinent are interconnected...////...