Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, likening his country to a "dumper truck", while describing India as a shining Mercedes, was a reflection of Islamabad's "own failure", said the Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh, on Friday. While in reference to Munir’s ‘nuclear threat’ against India, Singh said it reflects the “predatory” mentality of Pakistan itself.
Islamabad should not be in any delusion, especially after the Operation Sindoor, the defence minister said, as he referred to the Pakistan Army chief’s comments that they could use its nuclear weapons to take down India and "half the world" in the event of an existential threat in any future conflict with New Delhi.
"If two countries gained independence together and one built an economy like a sports car with hard work, right policies, and vision, while the other remained stuck in failure, it is their own doing. This is not a joke, it is a confession," he said.
Speaking to the Pakistani diaspora in Florida's Tampa earlier this month, Munir reportedly said, "India is shining like a Mercedes, coming on a highway like a Ferrari, but we are a dumper truck full of gravel. If the truck hits the car, who is going to be the loser?" In his address at "The Economic Times World Leaders' Forum", Singh said Munir's remarks were a confession of Pakistan's failure.
Without directly referring to the Pakistan Army chief's nuclear threat, the defence minister said Operation Sindoor has shown India's approach in dealing with security challenges.
"The Pakistan Army chief, knowingly or unknowingly, has pointed towards a predatory mentality (kabilai aur looteri mansikta) that Pakistan has been a victim of since its inception. We must ensure that along with India's prosperity, our fighting spirit for our defence capability and national honour remains equally strong. Operation Sindoor has already shown our resolve. We will not allow any illusion about India's strength to take root in Pakistan's mind," he cited.
"In our tradition, the measure of strength is not in the ability to command, but in the capacity to care, not in the pursuit of narrow interests, but in the commitment to the global good," India’s defence minister added.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting at least nine terrorist infrastructure sites in territories controlled by Pakistan in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The strikes triggered four days of intense military conflict between India and Pakistan that ended with a ceasefire understanding on May 10.
Further speaking at the forum, Singh laid out the reasons for the foreign companies to they should invest in India’s defence sector, saying, "I would like to appeal to all foreign companies and investors to come and invest in India's vibrant defence-manufacturing ecosystem. We will provide you with all the necessary clearances and offer hand-holding support. Our Make in India is not limited to India only. When you make in India, you will make for the world," he said.
Singh pointed out that India's defence exports have grown nearly 35 times in the last 10 years, from just Rs 686 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 23,622 crore in 2024-25, with defence products now being exported to almost 100 countries. The Indian government is aiming to achieve Rs 30,000 crore in defence exports this year and Rs 50,000 crore by 2029.
The union minister then informed that the domestic defence production has more than tripled from Rs 40,000 crore in 2014 to more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore in 2024-25, and is on track to touch Rs 2 lakh crore in the current fiscal.
Not only this, but India has released "five positive indigenisation lists" covering 509 platforms, systems, and weapons, which will now be mandatorily manufactured within the country, said the defence minister, adding that the Centre has reserved 75 per cent of the defence capital procurement budget for Indian companies.
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