Rajnath Singh Warns India Will Hit Back Inside Enemy Territory, Rejects Peace Built on Fear Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India's armed forces have full freedom to strike inside enemy territory and that peace born of fear is unacceptable. Citing surgical strikes, Balakot and Operation Sindoor, he also highlighted the sharp rise in India's defence production, exports and budget. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday that India's armed forces now have both the freedom and the resources to deliver a decisive response to any threat, including striking inside enemy territory when required. Peace Is Not the Same as Weakness Speaking at an event, Singh argued that equating peace with weakness would be a serious mistake, since the two are worlds apart. He made clear that if any country is found backing terrorism against India, there will be no talks, only a crushing response from the armed forces. According to the minister, India does not believe in war or seizing anyone's territory and always prefers peace, but peace secured through fear is shameful, while a war fought to protect peace deserves respect. Plots to Mislead Kashmir's Youth Foiled Singh listed several ways hostile actors have tried to undermine India's security, from misleading young people in Jammu and Kashmir to funding anti-India activities, spreading terror and sowing divisions within society. He credited the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with defeating these attempts through rehabilitation programmes, efforts to steer youth away from radicalisation, and by creating job opportunities. He added that Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed progress on a scale never seen before since Article 370 was scrapped. From Surgical Strikes to Operation Sindoor Explaining India's counter-terrorism approach, the defence minister pointed to the surgical strikes, the Balakot air strike and Operation Sindoor as examples where both terrorists and their handlers were directly targeted. He also referred to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, saying it sent a firm message that blood and water cannot flow together. Space and Cyberspace Emerge as New Battlegrounds On how warfare itself is evolving, Singh said combat is no longer confined to land, air and sea, with space and cyberspace now emerging as fresh battlefronts. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, autonomous systems and precision-guided weapons are reshaping the nature of the battlefield. The government's aim, he said, is for India to develop its own modern technology, which is why defence policy has been shifted from a "reactive" posture to a "proactive" one. Defence Production and Exports See a Sharp Rise Citing figures, the minister said defence production has climbed from roughly Rs 40,000 crore before 2014 to nearly Rs 1.80 lakh crore now, while exports have jumped 56 times to cross Rs 38,000 crore. The government is targeting Rs 50,000 crore worth of defence exports by 2029. This progress is reflected in indigenous platforms such as Astra, the Akash missile, Akashteer, Pinaka, the Tejas fighter jet, the Arjun tank, the Prachand and Dhruv helicopters, and INS Vikrant. He noted that all 16 defence public sector undertakings are now profitable, and the defence budget has grown from Rs 2.5 lakh crore to nearly Rs 8 lakh crore over the last 12 years. What this means for you The biggest practical takeaway from this statement is its effect on India's security posture and on jobs and investment tied to the defence sector. • Effect on taxpayer money: The defence budget has grown from Rs 2.5 lakh crore to nearly Rs 8 lakh crore over the last 12 years. That means a growing share of tax revenue is now going toward weapons, technology and troop deployment. • Jobs and investment opportunities: With defence production nearing Rs 1.80 lakh crore and exports up 56 times, domestic defence manufacturers and their supply chains are creating fresh opportunities. Anyone working in or around defence manufacturing could see rising demand in the coming years. • For stock market watchers: All 16 defence public sector undertakings are now reported to be profitable, which is relevant information for investors tracking defence sector stocks. • For residents of border areas and Jammu and Kashmir: The progress claimed since Article 370 was removed, along with a tougher counter-terrorism stance, directly affects daily security and the ground situation for people living there. Why this happened Singh's tough posture did not appear out of nowhere, it follows years of cross-border terror activity and the string of military responses India has taken in reply. • Repeated cross-border terrorism: The minister himself said hostile actors tried misleading youth in Jammu and Kashmir, funding anti-India activity and spreading terror, which is why the government has chosen a policy of retaliation over talks. • Precedent from past operations: References to the surgical strikes, the Balakot air strike and Operation Sindoor show this approach has been building for years and has been repeated after major terror incidents. • The Indus Waters Treaty move: Suspending the treaty is part of the same firm approach, meant to show that sponsoring terrorism carries a cost. • Changing security environment: The rise of space, cyberspace, drones and AI as new domains of conflict has altered the nature of threats, prompting the government to shift defence policy from reactive to proactive. Questions & Answers 1. When did Rajnath Singh make this statement? He made the remarks at an event on Monday. 2. Which military operations did he cite? He referred to the surgical strikes, the Balakot air strike and Operation Sindoor. 3. How much has defence production grown? Defence production has risen from roughly Rs 40,000 crore before 2014 to nearly Rs 1.80 lakh crore now. 4. What is the defence export target? The government aims to achieve Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029. 5. Which indigenous weapons systems were mentioned? He listed Astra, the Akash missile, Akashteer, Pinaka, the Tejas fighter jet, the Arjun tank, the Prachand and Dhruv helicopters, and INS Vikrant. 6. How much has the defence budget grown in 12 years? The defence budget has grown from Rs 2.5 lakh crore to nearly Rs 8 lakh crore. https://trendkia.com/en/national/rajnath-singh-ki-do-tuka-dushmana-ki-jamina-men-ghusakara-denge-javaba-dara-se-mili-shanti-kabula-nahin-29414 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.