‘Any terror act originating from Pakistan would invite an even stronger respons’: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said Operation Sindoor, the Balakot airstrikes and surgical strikes marked a shift in India’s approach to terrorism, moving from diplomatic condemnation to proactive action against terror networks.

Addressing a Defence Conclave in New Delhi, Singh warned that any future terrorist attack originating from Pakistan would invite an even stronger response. He said India remained committed to peace but would not compromise on its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests.

Singh warned of growing threats from lone-wolf attacks and what he termed “white-collar terrorism”. He also highlighted a “5D Security Threat” comprising disinformation, destabilisation, disruption, deception and destruction.

He stressed that combating terrorism required heightened vigilance from security agencies and responsible participation by citizens.

Advocating a “smart power” approach, Singh called for combining advanced weapons, artificial intelligence, human intelligence and cost-effective defence technologies to address evolving security challenges.

He said India’s defence production had reached a record ₹1.78 lakh crore, compared with ₹40,000 crore in 2014. Defence exports had risen to ₹39,000 crore from ₹686 crore in 2013-14, with Indian products reaching nearly 100 countries.

The government aims to achieve defence production worth ₹3 lakh crore and exports worth ₹50,000 crore by 2029.

Singh said 75% of the defence modernisation budget had been earmarked for domestic procurement. He also highlighted initiatives supporting startups and MSMEs, noting that 159 of the 175 ammunition variants used by the armed forces were now produced domestically.

He expressed confidence that India would emerge as a developed nation by 2047, with stronger capabilities in technology, the economy and defence.