New Delhi, April 23 (UNI) Strongly condemning the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday issued a stern warning, asserting that the government will not only reach those who have perpetrated this incident, but will also those who orchestrated it from behind the scenes as part of a conspiracy on the Indian soil.

Delivering a memorial lecture on the Marshal of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Arjan Singh, Rajnath said, “On Tuesday, in Pahalgam, our country lost many innocent citizens in a cowardly attack by terrorists targeting religion. This inhuman act has plunged all of us into deep grief and pain”.

In the context of cross-border-supported terrorist incidents, Rajnath said “History is witness to the withering away of nations not due to the action of the adversary, but due to the result of their own misdeeds. I hope people across the border look at lessons of history more closely”.

He expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, adding, "In this hour of grief, I pray to God for the peace of the departed souls".

Reiterating the government's resolve, the Defence Minister stated, "India has a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism. Every citizen of India stands united against this cowardly act." He assured the nation that the government of India would take all necessary and appropriate measures in response to the attack.

"From this platform, I assure my fellow countrymen that, in view of this incident, the government of India will take every step that is necessary and appropriate. We will not only reach those who have perpetrated this act, but will also those who, operating from behind the scenes, have conspired to commit such nefarious acts on Indian soil," Singh said.

He further emphasised the resilience of the nation, saying, "India is such an old civilization and such a vast country that it cannot be intimidated by any such terrorist activities. The people responsible for such acts will get a strong response in the near future."

Rajnath Singh described the journey of IAF as an aspiring, inspirational, and transformational epic, which is not just about touching the sky, but also turning the dreams of national security into reality. He stated that, despite challenges, IAF has grown stronger post-independence, and is today contributing significantly to national security as a strong pillar.

He emphasised that the government’s focus is on transforming the armed forces on the back of a self-reliant defence ecosystem. He reiterated the commitment towards establishing IAF as a dominant power in the region, stating that the journey towards Aatmanirbharta is a shared responsibility. Commitment, collaboration and unified vision is the need of the hour, he said. He added that India’s national security will get further strengthened if IAF is well-equipped and highly technology-oriented.

He also stressed that national security cannot be ensured through import dependency, and the government is working relentlessly towards achieving defence sovereignty. He stated that emphasis is being laid on manufacturing defence equipment within the country and the efforts of Ministry of Defence are yielding positive results. He termed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv, Light Utility Helicopter Prachand, Akash & BrahMos Air Defence weapons as shining examples of the capability of Indian designers, engineers and scientists.

“Today, not only has there been unparalleled growth in defence manufacturing in the public sector, the private sector is also participating with great enthusiasm. As the field of defence production is becoming technology-oriented, the role of start-ups and MSMEs is also increasing rapidly. These are proving to be the backbone of defence innovation. In the times to come, the role of the private sector, start-ups and MSMEs in high-tech warfare is going to increase even more,” the Defence Minister said.

Terming aero-engine development as a priority area of the government in view of the needs of IAF, Rajnath Singh stated that the effort is to make the engine in India on the model of co-development and co-production with full intellectual property rights. He added that special attention is being paid to the development of fifth generation fighter aircraft and LCA Mark-2.

He said self-reliance has been achieved to a large extent on many air defence systems, including Astra Mark-2, Pralay, SMART, anti-field weapon, NG Anti-radiation missile, and Very Short Range Air Defence System, and these are at various stages of production and development.

He said that due to the shift of power dynamics to Asia in the 21st century, the Indo-Pacific region has emerged as the most important region strategically, and the government is leaving no stone unturned to address the complex challenges emanating from a fluid international order and technological revolution. He pointed out that the revolutionary breakthrough in the field of technology, including the growing use of Artificial Intelligence, Hypersonic Directed Energy weapons, Quantum Computing, drones, cyber & space tech, have brought unpredictability and lethality in modern-day warfare, making it unconventional and even more uncertain.

He voiced Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government’s commitment to tackle these challenges and uncertainties.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the senior civil & military officials and serving and retired IAF personnel were among those present on the occasion.

UNI RBE PRS