Mumbai: Rajnath Singh has warned Pakistan against armed conflict with India, asserting that with the strength of the nation’s military and the “strong resolve of our government… we are capable of giving a much bigger blow”. The Defence Minister’s comments come after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, in which he raised the issue of Kashmir and cautioned the global body of “consequences” if India and Pakistan – two nuclear-armed nations – waged war.
“Pakistan needs to understand that the Indian Navy has become much stronger with the commissioning of the INS Khanderi. Pakistan should know our capabilities and we can use them if required.” he said, referring to a Scorpene-class attack submarine he commissioned in Mumbai on Saturday morning.
“State-sponsored terrorism is a big challenge. Our government is strong-willed, and we do not hesitate when it comes to taking tough decisions,” Singh added at the event, where he also launched a P-17A frigate, stating a “hostile neighbourhood” was working to destabilise India.
A state-of-the-art diesel/electric naval asset, Scorpene-class submarines can fire anti-ship and anti-submarine torpedoes, is fitted with stealth technology and can cruise at speeds of 20 nautical miles per hour.
“The Indian Navy wants to win the confidence and trust of countries in the Indian Ocean but there are some powers whose actions are unholy,” Singh continued, reminding Pakistan of the “exceptional role the Indian Navy played in the 1971 war”.
India has stepped up its war rhetoric in response to Pakistan reactivating terror camps in Balakot that had been bombed by the Indian Air Force in February.
On Wednesday, two days after Army Chief Bipin Rawat confirmed the reactivation, the Defence Minister said India’s forces were “fully prepared”.
On Thursday, while addressing an event in Kerala, Rajnath Singh said the centre was committed to ensuring the nation’s maritime security at a time when terror activities along the coast seem a distinct possibility.
India has received multiple terror alerts over the past month, including serious credible threats to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and at least 30 major cities.
PM Modi’s government has committed itself to strengthening and modernising India’s military.
In addition to the attack submarine, Rajnath Singh also launched a P-17A frigate on Saturday. The Indian Air Force will welcome the first of 36 advanced Rafale fighter jets in October, and the Army will get S-400 air defence missile systems from Russia in early 2021.
