Mudasir Maqbool
New Delhi : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has delivered a strong message to Pakistan, asserting that India remains prepared to respond to any terrorist attack and will take necessary action against terror threats.
Addressing the NDTV Defence Summit 2026 on Sunday, Singh reiterated the government’s policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and stressed that India’s counter-terrorism approach has evolved from deterrence by denial to deterrence by punishment.
The Defence Minister said India possesses both the power of argument and “argument of power indicating that New Delhi is prepared to respond in a manner it considers appropriate to any security challenge.
Singh also said that any terror attack originating from Pakistani soil would be treated as an “Act of War” against India and would invite a response.
His remarks come against the backdrop of India’s experience with Operation Sindoor, during which the Indian armed forces carried out strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack.
The Defence Minister has repeatedly maintained that India’s response to terrorism is not merely rhetorical. In July, he said the country’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism was a “line of action”, citing Operation Sindoor as an example.
The NDTV Defence Summit 2026 themed India’s New Defence Edge, is focusing on India’s evolving military capabilities, lessons from Operation Sindoor, artificial intelligence, drones, space capabilities, autonomous systems and self reliance in defence production.
