Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday, 27 September 2026, issued a pointed warning to Pakistan, stating that India stands prepared to carry out strikes against terrorists for as long as any neighbouring country continues to “propagate terrorism.” Speaking at the NDTV Defence Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Singh drew a sharp line between India’s desire for peace and any perception of weakness.

The Warning in Singh’s Own Words

“India believes in peace, does not want war. India does not want to take over another land, does not want to threaten anyone. But there is a difference between silence and weakness,” the Defence Minister said. In what was widely read as a direct reference to Pakistan, he added: “India wants peace, but it will not compromise on its security. Till the time our neighbouring country propagates terrorism, we will be ready for any strikes against terrorists — we want to tell them and the world.”

Singh further underscored that dialogue has its limits: “India believes in dialogue, but if any country propagates terrorism, the dialogue will end then and there.” He added that India “wants cooperation but not at the cost of national interest.”

Context: Pahalgam Attack and India’s Consistent Stance

Singh’s remarks come in the backdrop of India’s longstanding position that Pakistan-based militants have repeatedly targeted Indian civilians and security forces. Most recently, on 22 April 2025, Pakistan-based terrorists attacked tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 people — including one Nepali national — and injuring several others. That attack significantly hardened India’s public posture toward cross-border terrorism. Notably, Sunday’s address represents the sharpest articulation yet of India’s conditions for resuming any form of bilateral engagement.

Defence Readiness and Strategic Autonomy

Beyond the warning, Singh used the summit to outline India’s evolving defence philosophy. He asserted that India’s defence strategy is “future ready,” with energy resources diversified to reduce strategic vulnerability. Invoking a familiar military maxim, he said: “If you want peace, prepare for war… the more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.” He stressed that the modern Indian soldier “operate[s] within a multi-domain environment,” signalling awareness of cyber, space, and information warfare domains.

On domestic defence manufacturing, Singh reiterated India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat commitment: “Our philosophy is simple: why buy what can be produced here?” He argued that controlling critical links in the defence supply chain is essential for genuine strategic autonomy, adding: “From chips to ships, from screws to complete weapon systems, this will take India to strategic autonomy.”

What This Signals Going Forward

The statement marks a deliberate public escalation in India’s rhetorical posture, delivered at a high-profile media forum rather than through diplomatic back-channels. It places the burden squarely on Pakistan to cease support for militant groups as a precondition for any normalisation of ties. Analysts note that such explicit strike-readiness language from a sitting Defence Minister at a public summit is calibrated for both domestic and international audiences. With bilateral relations at a prolonged low and the Pahalgam attack still fresh in public memory, any near-term diplomatic thaw appears unlikely unless Islamabad signals a concrete policy shift.