NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday assured the nation that those behind the “cowardly” terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, will receive a “befitting reply,” reiterating the government’s resolve to combat terrorism and uphold national unity. Speaking at the Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh Memorial Lecture in New Delhi, Singh said no act of terror would intimidate India or shake its unity, according to a PIB statement.
“Our country has lost many innocent lives in a cowardly act targeting religion. In this hour of grief, I offer my deepest condolences and prayers for peace to the departed souls,” the minister said. The attack, which claimed 26 lives, drew nationwide outrage and condemnation.
Singh declared that not only the perpetrators but also the conspirators behind the attack would face consequences. “India is an old civilisation, and such a big country can never be intimidated by terror activities. Every Indian is united against this cowardly act,” he said, adding that “the government will take every necessary and appropriate step.”
He also sent a pointed message across the border, invoking historical lessons. “History is witness to the withering away of nations not due to the actions of adversaries, but due to their own misdeeds. I hope people across the border look at the lessons of history more closely,” Singh said.
The Defence Minister used the platform to highlight the government’s continued efforts to strengthen India’s military capabilities, particularly the Indian Air Force (IAF), in an increasingly unpredictable international order. “Our aim is to establish the IAF as a dominant regional power and achieve true defence sovereignty,” he said.
Paying tribute to Marshal Arjan Singh, Singh credited the legendary airman’s vision and ethos for the IAF’s current status as one of the world’s strongest air forces. “His leadership still inspires the youth of this nation,” Singh added.
He emphasised the need for self-reliance in defence, noting significant achievements in indigenous manufacturing including the Tejas fighter jet, Dhruv and Prachand helicopters, and missile systems like Akash and BrahMos. He described these advances as evidence of Indian designers’ and scientists’ growing capabilities.
Singh said the government was actively working to indigenise aero-engine production, especially for the fifth-generation fighter aircraft and LCA Mark-2, through co-development and co-production models that ensure India retains full intellectual property rights.
He also spotlighted the growing role of start-ups and MSMEs in defence innovation. “As defence becomes increasingly technology-driven, these sectors are becoming the backbone of high-tech warfare,” Singh noted.
Describing the 21st-century Indo-Pacific region as the strategic heart of global power shifts, Singh underscored the government’s commitment to navigating the fluid international landscape, marked by emerging threats like AI-driven warfare, hypersonic weapons, quantum computing, and cyber and space technologies.
“The nature of warfare has become unconventional and more uncertain,” he warned, assuring that the Modi government is leaving “no stone unturned” to equip the Armed Forces to deal with these challenges.
The event was attended by top military officials, including Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, along with senior civil officials and veterans.
