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Business News/ News / India/  Kargil victory a symbol of India's might, says PM Modi
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Kargil victory a symbol of India's might, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised adequate resources for the modernisation of the armed forces
  • He also called for increased synergy among the three forces to fight future wars
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the commemorative function of the 20th Kargil Vijay Diwas at the Indira Gandhi Indoor stadium, in New Delhi on Saturday (Reuters)Premium
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the commemorative function of the 20th Kargil Vijay Diwas at the Indira Gandhi Indoor stadium, in New Delhi on Saturday (Reuters)

    New Delhi: In a clear message to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the victory in the Kargil war two decades ago was a symbol of India's might and its security will remain unassailable with the dedication of the Indian armed forces. Speaking at an event marking 20th anniversary of Kargil war, Modi also said promised adequate resources for the modernisation of the armed forces and also called for increased synergy among the three forces to fight future wars.

    "Kargil victory was symbol of India's might, determination and capability," Modi said at the event that saw the presence of a large number of military personnel and ex-servicemen. "Wars are fought not by governments but by the whole country. The victory at Kargil still inspires the whole country...Kargil was victory of every Indian," he said.

    More than 500 soldiers died in India’s attempt in May-July 1999 to clear military posts inside the Line of Control border in Kashmir of Pakistani intruders. The military posts were routinely vacated by Indian troops during winter months in the Kargil mountains at heights of 18,000 feet (5,486 metres). India has since then not left the posts unmanned.

    Slamming Pakistan and its use of deceit in its dealings with India since 1947, Modi said that in 1999 too Pakistan resorted to this in a bid to redraw its boundaries with India but its actions were thwarted by Indian security forces. “This is not something they (Pakistan) anticipated," Modi said while praising the handling of the crisis by then prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. It was Vajpayee’s peace initiative – taking a bus to Lahore in February 1999 – that changed the perception of the world about the Kashmir dispute with Pakistan, Modi said. Countries that till then turned a blind eye to what Pakistan did took note of Vajpayee’s peace efforts, he said.

    Stating that India had never attacked any country, Modi noted that Indian troops always had a record of service – in France during World War 1 or elsewhere. In UN peace keeping operations, it was India that had paid the highest price in terms of loss of lives of its troops, Modi said.

    With India thwarting Pakistan’s plans in Kargil, Pakistan had now adopted a different strategy – that of using terrorism to achieve its ends, Modi said. “The need of the hour is that all the countries come together against terrorism, only then can terrorism be wiped out. Terrorism is challenging humanity today. There are countries that are using proxy wars as a political tool to meet their objectives," he said.

    Modi also noted that the definition of war had changed radically with space and cyberspace being theatres of future conflict. For this, the modernisation of India’s defence forces was a necessity as well as a priority, he said. India will not make its security choices under pressure or any kind of constraint, Modi said adding that the government would take steps to modernise the armed forces and equip them with the latest in terms of weaponry. Along with that, was the need of the three forces to work together – in “jointness" Modi said.

    Underlining the importance his government gives to defence, Modi listed several decisions taken in favour of the defence forces. “Our government took decision to implement OROP, which was pending since decades. Right after our government was formed this time, we took decision to raise scholarship of martyrs’ children," Modi said.

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    Published: 27 Jul 2019, 10:08 PM IST
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