India’s progress would have been faster, if we had more secure borders: NSA Ajit Doval

New Delhi, May 24: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Friday said that India was progressing at a fast pace and was slated to achieve greater heights in years to come, both economically and militarily.

He however lamented that this ‘scale and scope of progress’ could have been higher had India’s borders been more secure.

NSA Ajit Doval delivering the Rustamji memorial lecture at the BSE Investiture Ceremony, said: “India’s economic progress would have probably been much faster if we had more secure, defined borders with our western and northern neighbours.”

Lauding the government’s endeavour to achieve ‘atmanirbharta’ in all sectors including Defence, he said that the next ten years will see India emerging as a major exporter, as opposed to its over-reliance on weapon imports in previous regimes.

Notably, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a recent and exclusive interaction with IANS, informed how India’s defence exports rose from 600-800 crores in 2014 to Rs 31,000 crore in 2024 and are slated to cross Rs 50,000 crores in the next five years.