Two months after Operation Sindoor, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval criticised exaggerated coverage by foreign media and stressed India's focus on building its own strength in national security. Speaking at the 62nd convocation of IIT Madras, Doval gave a strong and inspiring speech that highlighted India’s growth in technology, its civilisational strength, and its strategic power. In his address to the graduating students, he spoke about the accuracy and success of Operation Sindoor and also underlined how important it is for India to become self-reliant in defence and technology.

NSA Doval stepped up to openly praise the success and accuracy of Operation Sindoor, which was India’s recent counterterror mission targeting nine terrorist camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

“We are proud of Operation Sindoor. We didn't miss anyone. The strikes were accurate, and we hit nowhere else other than our targets. Whether it was our BrahMos or radars, all were indigenous,” he added.

He also rejected reports in foreign media that claimed there were Indian casualties or damage to infrastructure. “Show me a single picture in which there is even a broken glass window in India. They wrote all this, but all satellite imagery just reflected changes on 13 Pakistani air bases prior to and after May 10 — Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, Chaklala. We can do that much damage,” he said while referring to the images published in global news reports.

The NSA strongly stressed the importance of reducing India’s dependence on foreign technology, especially when it comes to communication systems. “We are going to fully indigenise our communication systems. It is required for data protection and national security,” Doval stated, also warning that using foreign platforms brings serious risks.

Appreciating the efforts of India’s private sector, Doval said the country had managed to build its own 5G system in just two and a half years. “The Chinese took 12 years and 300 billion dollars. We did not have the money or time. And still, we did it because of our private sector,” he stated.

Calling Artificial Intelligence a “game-changer,” Doval encouraged young engineers and scientists to take the lead in developing future technologies. He said adopting AI and other new tools quickly would be key to protecting India’s strategic independence and global standing.

He also gave an emotional message to the students, asking them to remember the struggles and sacrifices of their ancestors. “You come from a civilisation that has been bled, dishonoured, and beleaguered for a thousand years. Our ancestors suffered to keep the idea of India alive. The State may be new, but the Nation has existed for millennia,” he added.

Looking ahead to India completing 100 years of independence in 2047, Doval urged the students to become the leaders of tomorrow. “You will be at the peak of your careers then. It is your duty to drive this nation forward.”

Operation Sindoor was carried out by India during the night of 7 and 8 May 2025 in response to a terror attack on 22 April 2025 in Pahalgam. The attack was carried out by the Pakistan-based group called The Resistance Front and led to the death of 26 civilians. The Indian operation involved accurate missile and air strikes that hit nine terrorist training camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India clearly stated that the strikes only targeted terror infrastructure and did not hit any military or civilian sites.