Rajnath Singh Hits Out At Taliban, Pakistan. Says Violent Radical Forces Attempting To Gain Legitimacy

In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Rajnath Singh said that the turmoil caused in the region has been brought about by active support to non-state players by irresponsible states.

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that the developments in Afghanistan raised questions about the role of power politics and use of terrorism as tools to change State structures and behaviour.

In an address at the National Defence College, the Union Defence Minister stated that there has been growing realisation of India’s concerns over Pakistan lending support to radical and terror groups, news agency PTI reported.

Without naming the Taliban, Rajnath Singh said that the world is witnessing the destabilising effects of terror, especially dangerous precedence of violent radical forces attempting to gain legitimacy by creating a “new normal”.

In the address, he asserted that India’s actions in Balakot and Galwan were clear signals to all “aggressors” that any attempt to threaten the nation’s sovereignty will be given a "swift and befitting" response.

In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Rajnath Singh said that the turmoil caused in the region has been brought about by “aggressive designs” and the active support to non-state players by irresponsible states.

“Today, there is widespread realisation amongst all responsible nations, towards a common understanding and the need to come together against this common menace,” he said with respect to terrorism.

The Union Defence Minister also talked about how the reverberations of events in Afghanistan are being felt in the region and beyond.

“The recent events in Afghanistan have reinforced the reality of our times. The only certainty about evolving geopolitics is its uncertainty. Changes in state boundaries may not be as frequent today,” he said, as quoted by PTI.

“However, the fast-transforming structure of states and the influence that external powers can have on it is clearly evident. These events raise questions regarding the very role of power politics and the use of terrorism as a tool to change state structures and behaviour,” he added.

The defence minister emphasised that there is a lesson to be learnt from the crisis seen in Afghanistan.

“When these events are viewed, it is tempting to believe that terrorism, fear, medieval thoughts and actions, discrimination drawn on the basis of gender, practices that are seeped in inequality and dogmatic thought, can sweep aside the wishes of the people and inclusive structures,” he said.

He then asserted that injustice, however powerful, cannot and will not defeat the collective power of the goodness that is inherent to human existence.

India’s Security Challenges

Talking about India’s security challenges with attempts to change status quo along the northern border with China and cross-border terrorism along the western frontie, he said: “We are faced with belligerence on our land borders challenging the status-quo, cross border support to terrorism, and increasing efforts to counter our goodwill and outreach in our neighbourhood”.

“While it (India) is totally committed to peace and goodwill amongst all nations, it has shown its steely resolve that threats to its internal and external security will no longer be tolerated,” the defence minister emphasised.

“From a security perspective, the nation and our military are acutely aware that the future military strategies and responses will need proactive synergy amongst all elements of our armed forces to safeguard our national security interests,” he added.

While the conventional threat remains, he said the “grey-zone” threats necessitate that an “all of government” approach be adopted with all elements of state power coming together to anticipate and mitigate future challenges.

The Union Defence Minister also spoke about the power of knowledge and how it allows people to understand the historical, social, geopolitical and economic realities of a country and a region.

“It tells us about the circumstances that led to the recent developments in Afghanistan,” he said.

“Knowledge and wisdom have been held as the highest attributes in our society. And those who have possessed these, have guided our destiny as a civilisation and as a country,” he stated.

“The quest for the qualities displayed by Vidur and Shri Krishna remains inherent to our learning. Similarly, we have been guided by the role played by Kautilya in the court of Chandragupta Maurya,” he added.