New Delhi: Any future terrorist act originating from Pakistan will draw an even “stronger response”, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday, asserting a decisive shift in India’s response with Operation Sindoor, Balakot airstrikes and surgical strikes.
These strikes symbolised a move from diplomatic condemnation to proactive action aimed at rooting out terrorism by reaching its very source, he said.
Singh said that since 2014, the “shelf life” of most terrorists has fallen to less than a year, with security forces neutralising them within a year of their taking up arms against India, the defence ministry said in a statement.
Speaking at a defence conclave in Delhi, Singh also referred to a recent incident involving a co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash a passenger aircraft, but was fought off by Captain Smit Machchhar, who “risked his life to avert a major terror attack.”
“The incident underscored the threat posed by lone-wolf attackers while demonstrating how the courage and commitment of an individual could thwart the designs of those driven by hatred,” he said.
“A single alert and courageous individual could help foil an entire terrorist plot. The fight against terrorism requires not only the capabilities of security agencies but also the active participation of aware and responsible citizens,” the minister was quoted as saying in the statement.
Singh underscored the need for heightened vigilance and preparedness in an era of hybrid, high-tech and hyper warfare.
He highlighted the growing complexity of security threats in the digital age, identifying what he described as the ‘5D security threat’ — “disinformation, destabilisation, disruption, deception and destruction.”
Singh said terrorism is evolving beyond organised groups, and emerging threats include ‘lone-wolf’ attacks and ‘white-collar terrorism’, which make it increasingly difficult for security agencies to identify radicalised individuals and prevent potential attacks.
Singh underlined the need to combine ‘hard power’ with ‘soft power’ and called for a shift towards ‘smart power’.
“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 to address evolving security challenges,” he said.
India hopes for peace, but it remains prepared for war, the minister asserted.
“Our commitment to peace remains steadfast, yet we are fully prepared to confront any challenge. Our goal is to build an India that, while advocating for peace, remains vigilant when it comes to security and is fully capable of safeguarding its sovereignty, integrity, and national interests,” Singh said.
The minister said that any further terrorist acts, originating from Pakistan, would draw an even “stronger response.”
“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 emphasised that while India’s cultural ethos favours dialogue, co-existence and peaceful resolution of disputes, its commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness.
Singh described Operation Sindoor as a demonstration of India’s growing technological capabilities and the defence forces’ confidence in advanced indigenous systems, including the Akash missile system and BrahMos.
