In a sharp response to Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir’s recent “Mercedes–dump truck” analogy, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the remark should not be dismissed as social media fodder, but viewed as a serious confession of Pakistan’s economic and strategic failures.
General Munir had remarked that “India is a shining Mercedes coming on the highway like a Ferrari, while Pakistan is a dump truck full of gravel. If the truck hits the car, who is going to be the loser?” The comment sparked widespread ridicule online and debate across the region.
Speaking at a public event, Singh said, “India’s economy is indeed like a Mercedes and a Ferrari running smoothly on the highway. And this comparison was not made by me but by Pakistan’s own Army Chief. He himself admitted that Pakistan’s economy is akin to a dumper filled with debris.”
‘Not trolling, but reality’
Singh said many dismissed the analogy as a joke, but he saw it as a telling admission. “When two nations achieved independence at the same time, one built a high-performing economy through vision and sound policy, while the other remains stuck in disrepair—that is not trolling. That is reality.”
The Defence Minister further warned that such remarks may carry a deeper intent. “If we fail to recognise the historical signal behind this warning, it could turn into a matter of concern. But India has the strength to respond effectively to any challenge.”
Calls out Pakistan’s ‘robber mentality’
In a pointed attack, Singh accused Pakistan of harbouring a “robber mentality” since its inception. “The Pakistani Army Chief has, knowingly or unknowingly, pointed towards this mentality. Due to Operation Sindoor, such delusions should not even arise in their minds.”
India’s holistic strength
Rajnath Singh emphasised that India’s rise must be holistic—combining economic progress, defence capability, and cultural integrity. “Alongside prosperity, we must ensure our fighting spirit and national honour remain alive,” he asserted.
India as a global growth engine
Broadening his remarks, Singh invited global investors to participate in India’s defence manufacturing sector, underlining that “Make in India is not limited to India; when you Make in India, you Make for the World.”
He highlighted India’s growing role in strengthening global supply chains, its advances in AI and semiconductors, and the world’s growing confidence in India as an economic powerhouse.
Quoting economist Jagdish Bhagwati, Singh said, “Earlier, the World Bank used to tell India what to do; now, India tells the World Bank what to do.”
Call for new world order
Touching on global inequalities, Singh said India envisioned a new rules-based world order, rooted in equality, cooperation, and global good. “In our tradition, the measure of strength is not in commanding, but in caring. Not in narrow interests, but in commitment to the global good,” he said.
