- Make-in-India played a key role during Operation Sindoor: Defence Minister
- AMCA Execution Model to allow private sector to further bolster indigenous capabilities; Govt-Industry synergy can make India a developed nation by 2047: Rajnath Singh
- Annual defence production crossed all-time high figure of Rs 1,46,000 crore; Record over Rs 24,000 crore worth of defence equipment exported: Defence Minister
NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, MAY 29
Stating that citizens of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) are part of Indian family and remain an inseparable part of India’s past, present, and future , Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that the people of PoK will “voluntarily return” to India one day, moved by the voice of their conscience. They remain an inseparable part of India’s past, present, and future
Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Business Summit in New Delhi, Singh made it clear that India’s approach to Pakistan has evolved, and any future dialogue with Islamabad would focus only on terrorism and PoK — signalling a hardened diplomatic posture.
“The people living in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are our own,” Singh declared, adding, “They are our brothers and sisters, who are geographically and politically separated from us today. We have full faith that they will return to India’s mainstream, voluntarily, driven by their soul’s call.”
Singh’s remarks follow the Indian military’s recent precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, which targeted multiple terror camps across PoK and Pakistan. The strikes were seen as a firm retaliation to cross-border provocation, and a reflection of New Delhi’s redefined counter-terror strategy.
“India has redesigned and redefined its response to terrorism,” the Defence Minister asserted. “We no longer adopt a reactive stance — we act decisively.”
Addressing the people of Pakistan, Singh said, “India has always spoken about hearts connecting hearts. On the path of love, truth, and unity, the day will come when our own PoK will say — ‘I am India, and I have returned.’
He further cautioned Islamabad, saying the business of terrorism is no longer cost-effective. “Pakistan has now understood that such acts will come at a heavy price,” he said sternly, suggesting that India’s robust military and diplomatic actions have deterred cross-border adventurism.
Singh’s emotive outreach to PoK residents coupled with his hard-hitting message to Pakistan comes at a time of heightened regional tensions, but also amid growing international support for India’s anti-terror position.
Govt-Industry synergy can make India a developed nation by 2047: Rajnath Singh
“Make-in-India is an essential component in our national security and it played a key role in India’s effective action against terrorism during Operation Sindoor,” Rajnath Singh has told industry captains, emphasising that through the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme Execution Model, the private sector will get an opportunity to participate in a mega defence project along with public sector companies for the first time, further bolstering indigenous defence capabilities. He was addressing the Inaugural Plenary of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Business Summit in New Delhi on May 29, 2025.
Rajnath Singh added that, today, India is not only producing fighter aircraft and missile systems, it is also getting ready for New Age Warfare Technology. “We are continuously making headway even in frontier technologies. Our progress in the field of Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Defence, Unmanned Systems, and Space-Based Security is being recognised on the global stage. India has the potential to become a development hub for engineering, high precision manufacturing and future technologies,” he said.
Dubbing the Indian industry as the carrier of the collective aspirations of the nation, Raksha Mantri said that only the common efforts & synergy of the Government and the Industry can make India a developed nation by 2047. He stressed that, in today’s times, the strength of a nation is not evaluated just by its economic index like GDP, foreign investment or export figures, it also depends on the confidence a country can inspire in its citizens and the global community. “Trust lasts only when a country has the confidence that it can protect its geopolitical interests, ensure the safety of its citizens, and remain stable in the face of future uncertainties. The morale of the nation remains high only when it knows that its today is secure, and tomorrow is safe,” he added.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat, Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani, CII President Sanjiv Puri and industry leaders were among those who attended the event.
