Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday here said India has “redesigned and redefined” its strategy and response to terrorism and that possible dialogue with Islamabad will be only on terrorism and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Making this assertion, he also said the business of terrorism is not cost effective and it will come with a heavy price as Pakistan has realised now.

His comments came three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it is for the youth of Pakistan to step forward and “free Pakistan from the disease of terrorism”. Addressing a business summit organised by Confederation of Indian Industry(CII), Rajnath Singh said people of PoK are part of India’s “own family” and the day is not far when they will return to the Indian mainstream by listening to their inner voice.

“We are committed to the resolution of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ (One India, Best India) and we have full faith that those of our brothers who are geographically and politically separated from us today, will also return to the mainstream of India someday or the other with self-respect, listening to their voice of soul,” he said. Most of the people there feel a deep connection with India, there are only a few who have been misled, he added.

The Defence Minister described Make-in-India as crucial for national security and prosperity, stating that the use of indigenous systems during Operation Sindoor has proved that India has the power to penetrate any armour of the enemy.

“We destroyed the terrorist hideouts and then the military bases. We could have done a lot more, but we presented a great example of coordination of power and restraint,” he said.

The Defence Minister said the unification of the PoK with India depends on “the cultural, social and economic prosperity of this country.”  He said most of the people in PoK feel a “deep connection” with India and only a few of them have been “misled”. “The situation of our brothers and sisters living in PoK is similar to that of Shakti Singh, the younger brother of brave warrior Maharana Pratap.”

“Even after separation, the confidence and faith of the elder brother towards his younger brother remains intact,” Rajnath Singh said. “India always talks about connecting hearts, and we believe that by walking on the path of love, unity and truth, the day is not far when our own part, PoK, will return and say, I am India, I have returned,” he said.

In his remarks, the defence ministry also highlighted India’s domestic defence capabilities. India’s Defence export was less than `1,000 crore 10 years ago but it has now reached a record figure of `23,500 crore, he said. Today, it has been proven that Make-in-India in defence is essential for both India’s security and prosperity, Rajnath Singh said. Today, we are not just building fighter jets or missile systems and we are also preparing for new-age warfare technology, he said. The Defence Minister also spoke about India’s ambitious plan to build a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet — the advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA). The Defence Ministry this week cleared the “execution model” to design and produce the aircraft.

He emphasised that through the AMCA “execution model”, the private sector will get an opportunity to participate in the project along with public sector companies for the first time. “Under the AMCA project, the plan is to develop five prototypes, which will be followed by series production. It is a key milepost in the history of the Make-in-India programme,” he said.

IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh hailed Operation Sindoor as a “national victory”, and said all the Indian forces came together to execute it in a very professional manner. In his address at the CII Business Summit, he also said, “We were taking the path of truth, I think, God was with us also in this.”

This Operation Sindoor that we’ve been talking about, it’s a national victory. I thank each and every Indian. I am sure, every Indian wanted. Was looking towards this victory,” the IAF chief said.

“Like it has been said again and again that this was an operation that was executed in a very professional manner by everybody, all the agencies, all the forces, we all came together. And when truth is with you, then everything happens on its own,” he said. Operation Sindoor was launched early May 7 in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. All subsequent retaliations to Pakistani offensives were carried out under this operation.