India will ensure stability, peace in Indo-Pacific: Rajnath

Panaji: No single country can claim ownership over marine resources, said defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday, while stressing that India aims to ensure peace and stability across the entire Indo-Pacific region.Singh said that maritime challenges through grey-zone threats such as narcotics trafficking, illegal fishing, human trafficking, and environmental violations threaten peace in the region.Speaking at the commissioning of the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) ‘Samudra Pratap’, the first of two pollution control vessels built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), Singh said that the responsibility for the protection of marine resources is also shared among nations.“We believe that marine resources are not the property of any one country, but a shared heritage of humanity. And when the heritage is shared, the responsibility for its protection is also shared. This is why India stands firmly on the world stage today with the principles of peace, stability, and environmental responsibility,” he said.Touching upon the current global uncertainty, Singh said that India remains a “responsible maritime power” that repeatedly “proves that it secures not only its own interests, but also the peace and stability of the entire Indo-Pacific region”.

He termed marine environment protection as not just a strategic necessity, but a moral responsibility.He appreciated the Coast Guard for carrying out oil spill response, firefighting, and salvage operations, placing India in the category of select countries that possess advanced environmental response capabilities.“Our Coast Guard has instilled such fear in the minds of our enemies that if anyone dares to even cast an eye towards our borders, the Coast Guard will leave them in no condition to do so again,” said Singh.He said that the ICGS Samudra Pratap will strengthen the Coast Guard’s capabilities by ensuring that pollution incidents are controlled in a timely manner.The defence minister said that the vessel is an embodiment of the Indian shipyard’s capability to handle complex manufacturing challenges effectively.He added that consistent efforts are being made to enhance the indigenous content in ships to 90%.