NEW DELHI: Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the country’s armed forces were given full freedom to respond appropriately to the cowardly terror attack on innocent civilians in Pahalgam. He emphasized that India’s response to the attack was “measured and non-escalatory.”
Singh made these remarks while addressing the Indian community in Rabat, Morocco, during his two-day visit to the North African nation.
According to an official readout, the defence minister reaffirmed that the armed forces were fully prepared and had complete autonomy to act following the attack on innocent Indians in Pahalgam. Quoting the Ramcharitmanas, he said, “We took action not based on religion but on deeds (Humne dharm dekh kar nahi, karm dekh kar maara hai),” reflecting India’s firm yet restrained approach.
In response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories. The operation led to four days of intense clashes, which concluded with a mutual understanding to halt military actions on May 10.
Singh also highlighted India’s achievements over the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Despite geopolitical challenges, India has emerged as the fastest-growing major economy and is on track to enter the top three soon. He cited progress in digital transformation, the knowledge economy, and the rise of startups—from 18 unicorns a decade ago to 118 today.
The defence minister underscored the “remarkable growth” of India’s defence industry, which now has production worth ₹1.5 lakh crore and exports exceeding ₹23,000 crore to more than 100 countries. He also praised the dedication, hard work, and integrity of the Indian community abroad.
Singh’s visit to Morocco marks the first-ever trip by an Indian defence minister to the country. During his stay, he is scheduled to meet his Moroccan counterpart, Abdeltif Loudiyi. The two sides are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation, establishing a framework for expanding bilateral engagement, including exchanges, training, and industrial collaboration.
India-Morocco ties have strengthened since King Mohammed VI’s visit to India in 2015, when he met with Prime Minister Modi.
