Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday addressing a dialogue on “National Security & Terrorism” in Dehradun, asserted that the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fundamentally transformed the nation’s security approach over the past 11 years. Citing Operation Sindoor as a watershed moment, Singh described it as the biggest counter-terror operation in India’s history, conducted in retaliation to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir.
Calling the Pahalgam incident a direct assault on India’s social unity, Singh said the government responded decisively by eliminating terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). “Post the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu & Kashmir has entered an era of peace and development. Our adversaries could not digest this progress and resorted to terrorism,” he said. The Defence Minister further added that the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line symbolizes this developmental push, confidently asserting, “Soon, PoK will say, ‘I too am Bharat’.”
In a strong message to the global community, Singh urged nations to exert strategic, diplomatic, and economic pressure on Pakistan, which he labelled the “Father of Global Terrorism.” “Pakistan has become a nursery for terrorists, training and sheltering them while seeking to justify terrorism on ideological or religious grounds,” he stated. He criticized the recent United Nations Security Council decision to name Pakistan as Vice-Chair of its Counter-Terrorism Panel, describing it as “shocking and contradictory,” especially given Pakistan’s track record of harbouring terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar.
“Funding Pakistan is akin to funding terror,” Singh declared, calling for a halt to international financial aid that could be misused for nurturing terrorism.
Highlighting the indigenous strength of India’s military, Singh noted that Made-in-India weapons and platforms were used in Operation Sindoor. “India is no longer solely dependent on foreign defence equipment,” he said, crediting the government’s focus on indigenisation. The Defence Minister revealed that India’s defence production has surged from ₹40,000 crore in 2014 to ₹1.3 lakh crore in 2024-25, with exports reaching a record ₹23,622 crore. Targets for this year have been set at ₹1.75 lakh crore in production and ₹30,000 crore in exports, with an ambitious long-term goal of ₹3 lakh crore production and ₹50,000 crore in exports by 2029.
He also highlighted the issuance of 10 Positive Indigenisation Lists, containing over 5,500 items aimed at promoting domestic defence manufacturing.
Singh warned of the growing threat posed by information warfare, citing Pakistan’s attempts to disrupt Indian morale through fake news and manipulated content** during Operation Sindoor. He urged citizens to become “social soldiers” by combating misinformation and being vigilant in cyberspace. “Cybersecurity is not just a government concern—it’s a national responsibility,” he said.
He also called on the media to prioritize accuracy over speed, noting that journalism has a crucial role in national security. “In today’s age, journalism is not just a profession but a national duty,” Singh remarked, encouraging responsible and fact-based reporting.
Rajnath Singh appealed the international community and global organisations, including the United Nations, to take terrorism seriously and act decisively. “Only when the world is free from terrorism can we truly move toward global peace, prosperity, and progress,” he said.
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