India

India’s Defence Minister Highlights Operation Sindoor as Firm Stand Against State‑Sponsored Terror

By Rahul Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Operation Sindoor set a "non‑negotiable red line" against state‑sponsored terrorism and demonstrated India’s battle‑tested counterterrorism doctrine. Speaking at the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADDM)‑Plus in Cebu, Philippines, Singh noted that India’s expertise in counterterrorism has been developed over decades of confronting complex, cross‑border security challenges on the ground. He added that India is ready to share its experience through joint exercises, capacity‑building programmes and robust intelligence sharing with ADMM‑Plus partners to strengthen collective capabilities. Singh described counterterrorism as an important pillar of cooperation under the ADMM‑Plus framework, stressing that terror knows no borders. The comments followed a day after Singh met with U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, where he urged that there should be no double standards on terrorism. India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of backing terrorism and insists that those who finance, support or shelter terrorists must be held accountable. Singh also highlighted India’s commitment to ASEAN centrality and a secure, open, inclusive, resilient and rule‑based Indo‑Pacific, where peace and stability are achieved through collective commitment. In separate talks with U.S., Japanese and Australian counterparts, the Quad partners reaffirmed their commitment to peace, stability and respect for international law across the Indo‑Pacific, while closely monitoring China’s expanding military footprint. Singh proposed a dedicated defence “Youth Bridge” to enhance people‑to‑people connectivity, promote digital innovation and facilitate capacity building in line with ADMM‑Plus initiatives.