Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday condemned yesterday’s terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and assured that those responsible would face a “befitting reply.” Speaking at a memorial lecture in New Delhi to honour Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, the Minister reiterated India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and pledged decisive action.
“The government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will take every necessary and appropriate step to ensure justice,” Singh said. “India is an ancient civilisation and a strong nation—no act of terror can intimidate us. Those who carried out this cowardly attack, as well as those who conspired behind the scenes, will not go unpunished.”
Condemning the attack that targeted civilians based on religious identity, Singh expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives. “Our country has lost many of its citizens in a brutal and inhuman assault. This pain is shared by every Indian. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for peace to the departed souls,” he said.
In a veiled message to Pakistan, the Defence Minister remarked that nations often fall not due to enemy action but because of their own misdeeds. “History is witness to this. I hope people across the border learn from history before it’s too late,” he added.
Defence Minister Reviews Security Situation
Before the lecture, the Defence Minister assessed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir following the terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in 28 fatalities. Present at the meeting were Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, the three Service Chiefs, the Defence Secretary, and the Army’s Director General of Military Operations, according to sources.
It was reported that Singh instructed the armed forces to improve their combat readiness and intensify anti-terror operations.
Speaking at the ‘Arjan Singh Memorial Lecture’ in New Delhi https://t.co/MyxiKpKGRz
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 23, 2025
Push for Defence Indigenisation
Switching focus to defence modernisation, Singh underscored the importance of achieving self-reliance in national security. “India cannot depend on imports to ensure its defence. We are working relentlessly towards defence sovereignty,” he asserted.
Singh cited indigenous platforms such as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv, Light Combat Helicopter Prachand, Akash missile system, and BrahMos as success stories of India’s growing defence manufacturing capabilities. “These are proud achievements of our designers, engineers, and scientists,” he said.
He also lauded the increasing participation of the private sector, MSMEs, and start-ups in defence production. “As warfare becomes more technology-driven, the role of these sectors will be crucial. They are becoming the backbone of our defence innovation,” he noted.
Aero-Engine Development and Future Fighter Jets
Highlighting future priorities, Singh said indigenous development of aero-engines was a key area of focus. The government is pursuing co-development and co-production models that ensure full intellectual property rights for India, he added.
Efforts are also underway to develop the fifth-generation fighter aircraft and the LCA Mark-2. Singh further mentioned significant progress in various indigenous air defence systems, including the Astra Mark-2 missile, Pralay tactical missile, SMART weapon system, Next-Generation Anti-Radiation Missile, and the Very Short Range Air Defence System—all of which are at different stages of development and production.
Team BharatShakti
