"India capable of going to root of terrorism and uprooting it": Rajnath Singh

New Delhi [India], July 29 (ANI): India is capable of going to the root of terrorism and uprooting it, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, while reiterating the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government commitment to completely eradicate the menace in all its forms and manifestations.

The Defence Minister asserted that the Government has adopted a new strategy to strengthen national security and, at the same time, effectively deal with terrorism. He described Operation Sindoor as a demonstration of India military capability, national resolve, morality and political acumen, which has turned a vulnerable citizen of a soft country into a proud citizen of a strong nation.

Defence Minister Singh emphasised that the government is not only safeguarding the borders, but is also creating a system that is making the nation strong from a strategic, economic and technological point of view.

Under PM Modi leadership, India no longer tolerates, it gives a befitting reply. It is not going to bow down to any kind of nuclear blackmailing or other pressures, he said.

Rajnath Singh reiterated that Operation Sindoor has only been halted, and not ended, and if Pakistan again tries to carry out any nefarious act, India is fully prepared for an even more intense and decisive action. Pakistan and anyone who tries to cast an evil eye must remember that the Indian Armed Forces possess the strength and capability to deal with every situation, he said.

On the comments made by certain quarters that India should have reclaimed PoK during Operation Sindoor, the Union Minister stated that the day is not far when the people of PoK will become a part of India again.

Rajnath Singh called for a permanent solution to terrorism, terming the menace as an epidemic, which is destined to perish, but cannot be left to die its own death as its existence continues to challenge collective peace, development and prosperity. He emphasised that no religious, ideological or political reason can justify terrorism as nothing can be achieved through bloodshed and violence.

The Union Minister pointed out that India and Pakistan gained independence at the same time, but today India is internationally recognised as the Mother of Democracy and Pakistan as the Father of Global Terrorism. He stated that Pakistan has always harboured terrorists, and Pahalgam is just one example of the long list of crimes committed by Pakistan-backed terrorists.

Pakistan always tries to justify terrorism. Therefore, it is important that in the fight against terrorism, we eliminate not only the terrorists but also the entire terror infrastructure. This is why our Prime Minister has said that Operation Sindoor is still going on, said Rajnath Singh.

Describing Pakistan as a nursery of terrorism, which must not be nourished, the Union Defence Minister called upon the international community to stop foreign funding. He said funding Pakistan means funding the infrastructure of terrorism.

On the appointment of Pakistan as the Vice-Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Panel by the United Nations Security Council, Singh stated that the panel was formed after the 9/11 attacks and it was well-known that Pakistan had sheltered the mastermind of the attack. He stated that the decision was similar to making the cat guarding milk.

Rajnath Singh added that declared terrorists such as Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar roam around freely in Pakistan and senior officers of the Pakistan Army are seen attending the funerals of terrorists. It is a mockery of the global fight against terrorism that Pakistan is expected to lead the global community against terrorism, he said.

The Defence Minister stated that the rulers/leaders of Pakistan have put their citizens, who themselves want an end to terrorism, on the path of destruction. He reiterated that Pakistan should seek India help if it is unable to take effective action against terrorism. Indian Armed Forces are capable of taking effective action against terrorism on either side of the border. Pakistan witnessed it during Operation Sindoor, but it is stubborn. Therefore, it is necessary for the world to put every kind of strategic, diplomatic and economic pressure on Pakistan to end terrorism, he said.

The Union Minister congratulated the Indian Army and other security forces for neutralising three terrorists of TRF in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday. TRF terrorists had brutally killed 26 innocent people in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025. In the investigation conducted after the attack, our security agencies found a number of important clues, on the basis of which a counter-terrorist operation was launched. Forensic analysis of the weapons carried by the terrorists makes it clear that they were used during the Pahalgam attack. The role of our Armed Forces and other security forces in India ensuring internal and external security cannot be appreciated enough, he said.

The Pahalgam terror attack showed that an attempt was made to break India through terrorism from across the border. On May 6 and 7, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor, which was not just a military action, but an effective demonstration of the Government policy against terrorism and its commitment towards ensuring India sovereignty... Our military leadership not only showed its maturity but also demonstrated the strategic wisdom which is expected from a responsible power like India, said Rajnath Singh.

The Defence Minister termed the defence sector as one of the strongest pillars of Aatmanirbhar Bharat as the nation is indigenously manufacturing defence equipment, such as aircraft carriers, fighter planes and missiles.

Earlier, we were completely dependent on foreign countries for our defence equipment, but today India is rapidly becoming Aatmanirbhar in defence. Our forces not only have imported weapons, but also missiles, tanks, and other systems and platforms made in India. Our missiles such as Agni, Prithvi, BrahMos are ready to answer the enemy today, and all these are made in India, he said.

Enumerating the remarkable changes being brought about in the defence sector in the last 11 years under the leadership of PM Modi, the Defence Minister stated that the defence budget, which was Rs 2,53,346 crore in Financial Year (FY) 2013-14, has increased almost three times to Rs 6,21,941 crore in FY 2024-25. He added that defence exports have risen by almost 35 times compared to 2014.

In FY 2013-14, defence exports were only Rs 686 crore, that have increased to Rs 23,622 crore in FY 2024-25. Made in India defence products are being exported to about 100 countries. The exports target is to reach Rs 30,000 crore this year and Rs 50,000 crore by 2029. I am confident that we will definitely achieve this target, he said.

Singh added that the Government has allowed emergency procurement to strengthen the Armed Forces to deal with any unforeseen situation. (ANI)

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