If India's "neighbour" thinks it can make the most of the unrest in West Asia and commit any misadventures, it will attract an "unprecedented and decisive" reaction, warned Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday. He was reportedly speaking at a Sainik Samman Sammelan in poll-bound Kerala.
While India's 'Raksha Mantri' did not name or categorically single out Islamabad, it was evident that he meant Pakistan, as he reportedly added that Operation Sindoor is not over yet. "Our neighbour, in the current situation, could commit a misadventure. If it does so, India's action will be unprecedented and decisive," the Hindustan Times quoted the Defence Minister as saying. "The way terrorists targeted people on the basis of religion in Pahalgam... the attack was not just on India but on the country's social unity and social fabric," he reportedly added.
India launched Operation Sindoor—a military campaign against terrorist hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir—in May, in retaliation for the Pahalgam massacre.
The attack sparked a brief but intense military conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours, with Pakistan launching a drone strike on India. The Indian forces hit back, inflicting heavy damage on several military installations and airbases inside Pakistan.
For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India
Rajnath Singh also used the opportunity to confirm that the Indian Navy has been tasked with safely escorting tankers through the choked Strait of Hormuz. "Today, we are all going through a phase of major changes. A major conflict is going on in West Asia. Many people from Kerala live and work in these countries, but we should not worry at all because we will not lag behind in taking any steps for the protection and security of our Indian citizens. We are fully prepared for this," HT quoted him as saying.
He further said that India was fast becoming self-reliant in the defence sector.
ALSO READ:
- Major leadership overhaul in Indian Army: Meet the new vice chief, heads of Western, Eastern, Southern Commands
- India's Kaveri engine set for big comeback? ₹39,000 crore Ghatak reboot offers fresh lifeline for homegrown engine
- How to fix the Indian Army's artillery firepower gap? Expert suggest four key moves
"India, which was earlier dependent on defence imports, is now moving forward in the area. In 2014, India's defence exports were worth ₹600 crore, and now they have grown to ₹38,500 crore," he said.
Singh further noted that there has been a 62.66 per cent "record jump" in India's defence exports in 2025–26 as compared to 2024–25.
"In defence production, we have already crossed the milestone of ₹1.5 lakh crore, and our aim is to increase it to ₹3 lakh crore by the end of 2029. This will be achieved, I assure you," he said.
