"Cyber, information, communication, trade and finance have all become an inseparable part of future conflicts. This necessitates that Armed Forces will have to keep all these facets in consideration while planning and formulating strategies," he said.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has assured that appropriate action will be taken and that a special investigation team has been constituted to probe the matter.

The defence minister said this "top-down approach" towards solving problems has never been sustainable in the long run. "Often, it leads to debt trap, reaction from the local population, conflict and so on," he said.

Tripura Election 2023: BJP leader Rajnath Singh will address two ruling rallies in Unakoti district's Kailashahar and West Tripura's Badarghat. UP CM Yogi Adityanath will also hold rallies in Bagabassa, North Tripura, and Kalyanpur, Khowai. 
 

Under the Agnipath scheme, which was announced on June 14, 2022, the three services are recruiting youths between the age bracket of 17-and-half years and 21 years for four years with a provision to retain 25 percent of them for 15 more years.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "India is a country that never promotes war and wants to maintain friendly relations with its neighbours... We inherited this philosophy from Lord Ram and Lord Buddha's teachings. If provoked, the country can deal with any situation."

Rajnath Singh's visit comes a month after Indian and Chinese troops clashed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal. He did not visit any forward areas but the 100-metre bridge over the river Siyom is a key link for the military.

The defence minister also took an indirect dig at Rahul Gandhi for "doubting" the government's intention in the handling of the border row with China and said politics can not be done on the basis of "falsehood".

On Tuesday morning, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Army Chief General Manoj Pandey met Rajnath at the latter's residence and briefed him about the violent confrontation.

The BJP is widely expected to retain its power in the prime minister's home state, with all exit polls predicting a big win for the saffron party. Following the latest trends at 11:10 am, the BJP is ahead in 152 seats, Congress with 17 and AAP eight.