Rajnath Warns Pakistan of Stronger Strike Over Terror

New Delhi: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday warned Pakistan that any fresh terrorist attack originating from its territory would invite an Indian military response stronger than Operation Sindoor, asserting that the country would strike at the source of terrorism.

Addressing a defence conclave in New Delhi, Singh said India's approach to terrorism had undergone a fundamental change, with the government moving beyond diplomatic condemnation to direct military action.

"Whenever terrorists tried to drench the soil of India in blood, India gave a befitting response every time. The echo of that response must still be resounding in the ears of the masters of the terrorists," he said.

Recalling the surgical strikes following the 2016 Uri attack, the Balakot airstrikes after the 2019 Pulwama attack and Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam killings last year, Singh said India had demonstrated its resolve to strike terrorist infrastructure.

"This was the first time in India's history that the Indian armed forces had struck a decisive blow on the chest of terrorism," he said, referring to Operation Sindoor.e said the operations reflected a change in the country's mindset.

"Earlier, when terrorists attacked, previous governments would go to the world and cry foul. But this is the new India. Today, we do not cry foul. Now, India's armed forces are reaching the nursery of terrorism and uprooting it from the roots," he said.

Singh said the fight against terrorism had become more complex with the emergence of lone-wolf attacks, white-collar terrorism and technology-driven threats.

He identified five emerging security challenges — Disinformation, Destabilisation, Disruption, Deception and Destruction — describing them as the "5D Security Threat".

Referring to a recent incident in which a co-pilot allegedly attempted to crash a passenger aircraft, Singh praised Captain Smit Machhar for preventing a possible disaster.

"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," he said.

Calling for a shift from traditional hard and soft power to "smart power", Singh said modern defence strategies must combine advanced weapons, artificial intelligence, human intelligence and cost-effective technologies.

He cited Operation Sindoor as evidence of India's growing confidence in indigenous defence systems, including the Akash missile system and BrahMos.

The minister said the armed forces had issued five indigenisation lists covering 509 defence items, with a sixth list being prepared. Defence public sector undertakings had identified 5,012 items for indigenisation, of which 3,255 had been indigenised, he added.