Need to be alert against Pak: Rajnath

Dehradun, December 7

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said India had no extra-territorial ambitions, but asked the armed forces to be alert against Pakistan “which pursues terrorism as a matter of state policy”.

Addressing the passing out parade of the Indian Military Academy here, Singh asked the cadets commissioned into the armed forces to take the message of service and peace to the world but be prepared to deal with a neighbour like Pakistan.

“Despite suffering defeat at the hands of India in several wars, Pakistan continues to pursue terrorism as a matter of state policy. Non-state actors in Pakistan are so strong that those in the political centre stage look no more than mere puppets in their hands,” he said. 

Underlining that the mastermind of 9/11 and the 26/11 perpetrators and their handlers were found in Pakistan, the Defence Minister said, “The victims of 26/11 will get justice only when the handlers of the terror siege are brought to book.” He asked the new IMA pass-outs to hone the skills learnt at the academy so that they are ready to grapple with the relatively new challenge of cyber terror.

He said territorial perceptions of India and China might be different from each other but China stands with the rest of the world in the fight against terrorism. He also praised the Indian security forces for displaying great willpower as well as restraint during the Doklam crisis with the Chinese.

Congratulating the cadets on being commissioned into the armed forces, he said, “Your training has not just given you strength, but also a new meaning to your life.”

The Defence Minister, who inspected a colourful drill presented by the passing-out cadets in the backdrop of the historic Chetwode Building, also announced the construction of two underpasses connecting the North, South and Central campuses of the IMA to decongest traffic in the area.

The two underpasses will also make travelling to the neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Haryana from Dehradun extremely convenient. Singh said over Rs 30 crore had been sanctioned for the projects. — PTI