NEW DELHI: Operation Sindoor symbolised India’s willpower and capability, sending a message to the world that the country is ready to respond to any challenge, defence minister Rajnath Singh said Thursday.Addressing the naval commanders’ conference chaired by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Singh said the “deterrent posture” created by forward deployment of Indian warships and submarines in the northern Arabian Sea had forced Pakistani forces to stay confined to their harbours or close to the coast during the four-day conflict in May.He said the world had witnessed the operational readiness, professionalism and strength of the Navy during the operation. India’s naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region, he added, is “a matter of comfort for friendly nations and discomfort for those seeking to destabilise the region”.Calling a self-reliant Navy the foundation of a confident nation, Singh said 67% of Navy’s capital acquisition contracts in past decade were with Indian industries. “Present-day warfare is tech and intelligence-driven. We must protect ourselves from our adversaries’ modern systems while strengthening our own indigenous capabilities,” he said.
