Indian Armed Forces Given Full Freedom to Counter Threats, Says Defense Minister Rajnath Singh

New Delhi, September 7 (Daily Kiran) : Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh addressed a gathering in New Delhi on September 7, asserting that the Indian Armed Forces have been granted both the freedom and resources necessary to respond decisively to threats. This includes the capability to conduct operations deep within enemy territory. During his speech, Singh highlighted the clear distinction between peace and weakness. He stated that if any nation promotes terrorism against India, there will be no room for dialogue. Instead, the armed forces will deliver a strong response. Singh emphasized that while India believes in peace and does not seek war or territorial expansion, a peace born from fear is unacceptable. He argued that a war fought for peace is worthy of respect. The minister pointed out that adversaries have attempted to undermine India's security through various means, including misleading youth in Jammu and Kashmir, funding anti-India activities, spreading terrorism, and creating societal divisions. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the government has thwarted these attempts by focusing on rehabilitation, deradicalization, and job creation. Singh noted that Jammu and Kashmir has seen unprecedented progress since the abrogation of Article 370. Discussing India's counter-terrorism strategy, Singh referenced surgical strikes, the Balakot airstrike, and Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorists and their masterminds. He mentioned that halting the Indus Water Treaty sent a clear message that blood and water cannot flow together. On the evolving nature of warfare, Singh stated that land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace have emerged as new domains. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, autonomous systems, and precision-guided weapons are transforming the battlefield. The government's aim is to position India as a nation that develops its own modern technologies, shifting defense policy from reactive to proactive. He reported that defense production has surged from approximately ₹40,000 crore before 2014 to nearly ₹1.80 lakh crore now, with exports increasing 56-fold to over ₹38,000 crore. The target is to achieve ₹50,000 crore in defense exports by 2029. Indigenous systems like Akash missile, Pinaka, Astra, and the Tejas fighter jet demonstrate this progress. All 16 defense public sector undertakings are now profitable, and the defense budget has escalated from ₹2.5 lakh crore to around ₹8 lakh crore in the past 12 years. Like this: Like Loading…