On Friday (August 23), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke about India’s advancing defence capabilities, announcing that the country is taking major steps toward the development of indigenous fifth-generation fighter jets. He confirmed that India has partnered with French aerospace giant Safran to locally manufacture the aircraft engines.
“We have progressed toward building our own fifth-generation combat aircraft. India is now moving towards producing the engines on its own soil, in collaboration with Safran. Very soon, engine production will begin in the country,” Singh said at a conclave.
His remarks come shortly after comments from Pakistani leadership sparked debate. Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, while speaking to the Pakistani diaspora in Tampa, Florida, compared India’s economy to high-end sports cars like Ferrari and Mercedes, while likening Pakistan’s to a “dumper truck” loaded with gravel. Munir quipped, “If the truck hits the car, who is going to be the loser?” The statement triggered backlash online, with many netizens ridiculing his analogy.
Responding to Munir’s comparison, Singh said, “If two nations attained freedom at the same time, and one built an economy like a sports car while the other got stuck in repeated failures, that is the result of their own choices and policies. This is not a joke it is an admission of failure.”
He further added, “The Pakistani Army must shatter this illusion. After Operation Sindoor, such delusions should never have persisted. Their own leadership’s words show the reality of their position.”
Singh’s remarks underscored not only India’s defence ambitions but also his strong rebuttal to Pakistan’s military leadership, framing Munir’s own words as an inadvertent acknowledgment of Pakistan’s struggles.
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