New Delhi, Apr 30: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said India is recognised globally for “Information Technology”, while Pakistan has earned notoriety for “International Terrorism”, asserting that New Delhi has adopted a firm and uncompromising approach against terrorism.
Addressing a National Security Summit in New Delhi, Singh said Operation Sindoor conveyed a clear international message that India is no longer bound by the old practice of issuing diplomatic statements after terror attacks, and is prepared to respond through decisive action when required.
He said the government has maintained that terrorism in any form or under any circumstances would not be tolerated. Referring to earlier actions such as surgical strikes, air strikes and Operation Sindoor, Singh said these reflected India’s determined stance against terrorism.
“Terrorism emerges from a distorted mindset and is a stain on humanity,” he said, adding that the fight against terrorism was not only about national security but also about protecting fundamental human values.
The Defence Minister said terrorism cannot be viewed in narrow terms and often carries operational, ideological and political dimensions. He cautioned against attempts to justify terrorism by linking it to religion or violent ideologies, saying such narratives indirectly provide support to terrorists.
Turning to Pakistan, Singh said both India and Pakistan attained independence at the same time, but their global identities today stand in sharp contrast. “India is recognised globally for IT — Information Technology — while Pakistan is regarded as the epicentre of another IT — International Terrorism,” he said.
Describing Operation Sindoor as a strong example of coordination among the armed forces, Singh said the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force acted in complete synergy under a unified plan, demonstrating India’s growing integrated military capability.
He said India carried out the operation on its own terms and halted it on its own terms. Singh added that the operation was not stopped due to any limitation in capability, and that the country was fully prepared for a prolonged conflict if necessary.
He further said India’s military-industrial base had repeatedly shown that it was capable of meeting peacetime requirements as well as wartime demands related to rapid supply chains and logistics.
Calling the operation an example of deterrence, Singh said although it concluded within 72 hours, the groundwork behind it had been extensive. He noted that India’s surge capacity, strategic reserves and growing confidence in indigenous weapon systems had strengthened its deterrence posture.
Highlighting defence production, Singh said India’s defence exports reached a record Rs 38,424 crore during the financial year 2025-26, marking a significant increase over the previous year. He said several countries had expressed interest in procuring Indian-made defence systems and equipment.
Referring to a recent visit to Germany, Singh said many European companies were keen to collaborate with Indian private defence firms and public sector units, which he described as a sign of India’s growing credibility in the sector.
On technological changes in warfare, the minister said cyber capability, space warfare and information technology had become important pillars of deterrence, while Artificial Intelligence was now at the centre of this transformation.
He said AI had been effectively used across systems ranging from missile platforms such as BrahMos to surveillance networks, improving precision and strike capabilities.
Singh also said AI was helping in internal processes, soldier welfare and pension delivery through systems such as the SPARSH portal, where AI-enabled tools were simplifying services for veterans and pensioners.
He said under the IndiaAI Mission, the government was working to expand computing infrastructure, skills and research so that youth across the country could participate in the AI revolution.
At the same time, Singh cautioned that AI also posed challenges such as deepfakes, cyber warfare and autonomous weapons systems, and stressed the need for international cooperation to ensure responsible use of the technology.
Senior officials present at the summit included Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Dr Samir V Kamat and Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit.
