SUHAIL KHAN
New Delhi, Oct 15 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said Operation Sindoor, the Balakot airstrikes and surgical strikes marked a decisive shift in India’s counter-terrorism approach — from diplomatic condemnation to proactive military action aimed at eliminating terrorism at its source.
Addressing a defence conclave here, Rajnath Singh as per The Web Story/The Varmul Post warned that any future terror attack originating from Pakistan would invite an even stronger response, and asserted that India’s commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness.
“Operation Sindoor, Balakot airstrikes and surgical strikes weren’t just military operations; they symbolised a decisive shift in the nation’s approach, moving from diplomatic condemnation to proactive action aimed at rooting out terrorism by reaching its very source,” he said.
Singh said India believed in dialogue, coexistence and peaceful resolution of disputes, but remained prepared to meet any security challenge to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests.
“India is committed to peace, but it should not be mistaken for weakness,” the Defence Minister said, adding that strength and preparedness were essential to maintaining peace.
He also said that since 2014, the “shelf life” of most terrorists had fallen to less than a year, with security forces neutralising them within a year of their taking up arms against India.
Flagging emerging security challenges, Singh said terrorism was evolving beyond organised networks, with lone-wolf attacks and what he described as “white-collar terrorism” posing new challenges for security agencies.
He said the changing nature of threats required greater vigilance in an era of hybrid warfare, advanced technology and digital disruption, and identified what he termed the “5D Security Threat” — disinformation, destabilisation, disruption, deception and destruction.
Referring to a recent incident involving a co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash a passenger aircraft, Singh highlighted the role of individual vigilance in preventing potential attacks. He also cited Captain Smit Machhar, who, he said, risked his life to avert a major terror attack.
“A single alert and courageous individual could help foil an entire terrorist plot,” he said, calling for the active participation of aware and responsible citizens alongside security agencies in countering terrorism.
On defence preparedness, Singh called for a shift towards “smart power”, combining advanced weapon systems with cost-effective technologies, and artificial intelligence with human intelligence.
“Modern defence strategies must integrate precision-guided weapons and loitering munitions with cost-effective weaponry, human intelligence with artificial intelligence, and advanced systems with low-cost, agile and adaptable technologies,” he said.
Singh credited defence reforms under the Narendra Modi government with strengthening India’s military capabilities and domestic defence manufacturing, saying the government had moved beyond meeting immediate military requirements towards building a self-reliant and future-ready defence ecosystem.
Highlighting Operation Sindoor as an example of the growing capabilities of indigenous defence systems, he referred to platforms such as the Akash missile system and BrahMos.
He said defence production had increased to over Rs 1.78 lakh crore from around Rs 40,000 crore in 2014, while defence exports had reached a record Rs 39,000 crore, compared with Rs 686 crore in 2013-14.
The government, he said, was aiming to raise defence production to Rs 2 lakh crore in the current year and Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029, while targeting defence exports of Rs 50,000 crore by that year.
Singh said 75 per cent of the defence modernisation budget had been earmarked for procurement from Indian industries, adding that reforms had expanded the participation of private companies, start-ups and micro, small and medium enterprises in the sector.
He said India’s defence ecosystem had grown to include more than 500 companies and over 16,000 MSMEs, while the country’s defence products were reaching nearly 100 countries.
The minister also highlighted progress in indigenisation, saying 159 of the 175 ammunition variants used by the armed forces were now being manufactured domestically.
Singh expressed confidence that India would emerge as a developed nation by 2047, with greater capabilities in technology, the economy and defence.
