Forces have freedom, resources to strike at enemy: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the armed forces have been given both the freedom and resources to respond decisively to threats, including the ability to strike adversaries inside their own territory, asserting that terrorism against India would be met with a “befitting response”. Addressing an event in New Delhi, Singh said India believes in peace and does not seek war or the territory of any other country, but stressed that there is a clear distinction between peace and weakness. “We’ve made it clear that if any country promotes terrorism against India, there will be no dialogue; instead, our defence forces will deliver a befitting response,” he said.
Referring to the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said adversaries had attempted to undermine India by misleading youth, funding anti-India activities, promoting violence and terrorism and creating divisions in society. He said the government had countered these efforts through rehabilitation and de-radicalisation programmes, bringing misguided youth into the mainstream and creating employment and business opportunities. 
Singh said Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed significant progress since the abrogation of Article 370, with new avenues opening up for the region’s youth. He cited the Surgical Strikes, Balakot Airstrike and Operation Sindoor as examples of India’s strategy of decisively targeting terrorism and its handlers. He also referred to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, saying it sent a clear message that “blood and water cannot flow together”. The Defence Minister said attempts to create social divisions during Operation Sindoor had also been rejected by the people, who demonstrated unity and social harmony. The Defence Minister said government efforts to strengthen border security, modernise the armed forces, increase indigenous production and reform ordnance factories had helped make India more self-reliant in defence.
He said defence production had risen from around Rs40,000 crore before 2014 to approximately Rs1.80 lakh crore, while defence exports had increased 56-fold to more than Rs38,000 crore. Highlighting India’s indigenous capabilities, Singh listed systems and platforms such as the Akashteer Air Defence Control System, Akash missile, Pinaka rocket launcher, Astra air-to-air missile, Prachand and Dhruv helicopters, Tejas fighter aircraft, Arjun tank and modern drone and counter-drone systems. He also highlighted the induction of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, and said the country was now pursuing the development of sixth-generation fighter aircraft. India has set a target of exporting defence equipment worth Rs50,000 crore by 2029, he said.