Rajnath Singh Lauds INS Vikrant, Says Navy's Silent Power Deterred Pakistan

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi, May 31 — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday hailed the strategic role of the Indian Navy during the recent escalation with Pakistan, stating that the Carrier Battle Group, led by INS Vikrant, played a critical role in deterring Pakistani naval activity in the Arabian Sea.

During a visit to India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, Singh interacted with the naval personnel and commended their preparedness and professionalism. “Had the Pakistani Navy ventured out, it would have faced the consequences,” he said, highlighting the silent but potent deterrent posed by India's maritime forces.

INS Vikrant, a symbol of India’s growing defence self-reliance, formed the core of the battle group that was deployed during the heightened military standoff following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor, India’s targeted counter-terror strikes.

Though no naval combat occurred, Singh emphasized that the mere presence of the Carrier Battle Group ensured that the Pakistani Navy remained docked. “The Indian Navy has become a strategic force that strengthens India’s presence in the Indian Ocean Region,” Singh said.

INS Vikrant’s deployment marked a new chapter in India’s maritime posture. Equipped with state-of-the-art sensors, fighter aircraft, and support vessels, the battle group serves as a power projection asset and a symbol of India’s maritime dominance.