Homegrown weapon systems and growing capabilities of the domestic defence manufacturing sector gave India the strength to carry out wide punitive strikes across Pakistan, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday.
Lauding the contribution of the private sector in defence manufacturing, the minister said the success of Operation Sindoor has proven that Make in India is an essential component of national security.
"If we did not have this capability, Indian forces would not have been able to take such effective action against terrorism from the top to bottom of Pakistan," the minister said in his address at the CII Annual Business Summit. He added the operation has proven that India has the power to penetrate any armour of the enemy.
The minister said that India could have caused much more damage to Pakistan in the cross-border strikes but showed restraint. "We destroyed the terrorist hideouts and then the military bases. We could have done a lot more, but we presented a great example of coordination between strength and restraint," he said.
Emphasising that India has redefined its strategy and response to terrorism, the minister said that Pakistan has now realised that running the business of terrorism will not be cost-effective and a heavy price will have to be paid. He added that India has recalibrated its approach to dialogue with Pakistan and talks will be held now only on terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The minister also spoke in detail on PoK, saying he has full confidence that citizens there will one day return to the Indian mainstream. "Most of the people there feel a deep connection with India, there are only a few who have been misled," he said.
Singh also highlighted that India has been rapidly increasing its defence manufacturing capabilities, "Ten to eleven years ago, our defence production was about ₹43,000 crore. Today, it has crossed the record figure of ₹1,46,000 crore, with a contribution of over ₹32,000 crore by the private sector," he said, adding that exports have also crossed the value of ₹24,000 crore on an annual basis.
The minister also spoke on the recently cleared competitive model for manufacturing next-generation fighter jets under the Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft programme.
Lauding the contribution of the private sector in defence manufacturing, the minister said the success of Operation Sindoor has proven that Make in India is an essential component of national security.
"If we did not have this capability, Indian forces would not have been able to take such effective action against terrorism from the top to bottom of Pakistan," the minister said in his address at the CII Annual Business Summit. He added the operation has proven that India has the power to penetrate any armour of the enemy.
The minister said that India could have caused much more damage to Pakistan in the cross-border strikes but showed restraint. "We destroyed the terrorist hideouts and then the military bases. We could have done a lot more, but we presented a great example of coordination between strength and restraint," he said.
Emphasising that India has redefined its strategy and response to terrorism, the minister said that Pakistan has now realised that running the business of terrorism will not be cost-effective and a heavy price will have to be paid. He added that India has recalibrated its approach to dialogue with Pakistan and talks will be held now only on terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The minister also spoke in detail on PoK, saying he has full confidence that citizens there will one day return to the Indian mainstream. "Most of the people there feel a deep connection with India, there are only a few who have been misled," he said.
Singh also highlighted that India has been rapidly increasing its defence manufacturing capabilities, "Ten to eleven years ago, our defence production was about ₹43,000 crore. Today, it has crossed the record figure of ₹1,46,000 crore, with a contribution of over ₹32,000 crore by the private sector," he said, adding that exports have also crossed the value of ₹24,000 crore on an annual basis.
The minister also spoke on the recently cleared competitive model for manufacturing next-generation fighter jets under the Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft programme.
