Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently affirmed that India’s armed forces received full autonomy to deliver a decisive response following the heinous terror attack on innocent civilians in Pahalgam.
He further elaborated that India’s retaliatory actions were carefully calibrated to be both effective and avoid unnecessary escalation.
These statements were made during an address to the Indian diaspora in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
The Defence Minister was on a two-day official visit to the North African nation.
According to an official readout, Singh reiterated that after the cowardly attack in Pahalgam, the armed forces were not only fully prepared but also empowered with absolute freedom to act.
Emphasizing the nation’s resolute yet measured stance, Mr. Singh quoted from the Ramcharitmanas, stating, “We acted based on deeds, not on religion (Humne dharm dekh kar nahi, karm dekh kar maara hai).”
Following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, India initiated Operation Sindoor on May 7, specifically targeting terrorist infrastructure within territories controlled by Pakistan.
These strikes led to four days of intense engagements, concluding on May 10 with an agreement to cease military operations.
Beyond defence matters, the Defence Minister also spotlighted India’s remarkable progress over the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He noted that despite global geopolitical complexities, India has risen to become the world’s fastest-growing major economy and is on track to join the top three economic powers imminently.
Singh underscored the nation’s profound digital transformation, its rapid advancements in the knowledge economy, and an impressive surge in its startup ecosystem, growing from just 18 unicorns a decade ago to a staggering 118 currently.
He further highlighted the “remarkable growth” of India’s indigenous defence industry, now boasting production valued at ₹1.5 lakh crore and defence exports surpassing ₹23,000 crore to over 100 nations.
The Defence Minister also took the opportunity to commend the Indian community for their hard work, dedication, and integrity.
Notably, Mr. Singh’s visit marked a historic first, as no Indian Defence Minister had previously traveled to Morocco.
During his stay, he was scheduled to engage in bilateral discussions with his Moroccan counterpart, Abdeltif Loudiyi.
It was anticipated that these discussions would culminate in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at fostering defence cooperation between the two countries.
Officials stated that this MoU would establish an institutional framework designed to broaden and strengthen bilateral defence ties, encompassing areas such as military exchanges, training programs, and industrial collaborations.
Relations between India and Morocco have seen significant growth and momentum since King Mohammed VI’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India back in 2015.