Form of words:
New Delhi: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan is a lesson for all and the turmoil in the region has been brought about by “aggressive design by irresponsible states and active support to non-state players”.
Singh was seen taking a dig at Pakistan, which is seen as a country that played a key role in the Taliban takeover of Kabul. He said developments in the region show that violent radical forces are trying to gain legitimacy by creating a new normal.
Singh, who was speaking at the convocation of the National Defense College in New Delhi, also said that India is challenging the status quo on its land borders and increasing efforts to counter the country’s goodwill and reach in the neighbourhood. .
Noting that India is committed to peace with all, Singh said the Balakot air strikes on Pakistan and the Galwan Valley skirmish with China last year are “clear signals to all attackers” that there is no need to jeopardize sovereignty. Any attempt will be given a “swift and befitting reply”.
His remarks come days after China once again Guilty India violated the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Galwan.
Singh stressed the need for an “all government” approach, in which all elements of state power come together to anticipate and mitigate future challenges.
Read also: ‘What about my future?’ Afghan students stuck between Taliban and visa rules on Indian grants
‘World witness to destabilizing effects of terrorism’
Rajnath Singh said there is a growing realization of what India has been saying for a long time about “Pakistan’s active support to violent fundamentalist and terrorist groups”.
“Today, the world bears witness to the destabilizing effects of terror and a particularly dangerous precedent of violent radical forces attempting to gain legitimacy by creating the new normal. By aggressive design and irresponsible states caused by turmoil in the region Active support has been given to non-state players,” he said.
Addressing Indian students, officers of the rank of brigadier and joint secretary, among others from nearly two dozen countries, the defense minister said the only certainty about the emerging geopolitics is its uncertainty, changes in state borders as of today. Not possible.
“The rapidly changing structure of the states and the effect that external powers can have on it is clearly evident. These incidents raise questions about the role of power politics and the use of terrorism as a tool to change state structures and behaviour,” he said.
The Minister said that Strategic Affairs students should take lessons from the happenings in Afghanistan, which go far beyond the immediate resonance being felt in the region and beyond.
He said that when these incidents are seen, it is tempting to believe that terrorism, fear, medieval thoughts and actions, discrimination on the basis of gender, inequality and dogmatic practices rooted in people’s desire for a more inclusive and inclusive structures.
“Injustice, no matter how powerful, cannot and will not defeat the collective power of good inherent in human existence,” he said.
‘India has become stronger in every way’
Singh said India had “strengthened in every way” over the past decade, and assumed a greater global role and responsibility.
“We are facing war on our land borders challenging the status quo, cross-border support to terrorism and efforts to counter our goodwill and outreach in our neighborhood,” he said.
He underlined that India remains committed to peace and goodwill among all countries, but has shown its determination that threats to its internal and external security will no longer be tolerated.
“Our actions in Balakot and Galwan are a clear signal to all attackers that any attempt to jeopardize our sovereignty will be met with a swift and befitting reply,” he said.
He also said that from a security perspective, the country and the military are fully aware that future military strategies and responses will require active coordination among all elements of the armed forces to safeguard national security interests.
(Edited by Neha Mahajan)
Read also: Afghanistan’s new Taliban government has a clear seal of Pakistan and it’s bad news for India
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