New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asserted that India will not succumb to any pressure or influence in matters of national security as he emphasised the importance his government gives to armed forces.
In an address at an event here to mark the 20th anniversary of Kargil War, Modi also sent out a clear message to Pakistan, warning it against a repeat of any such misadventure, saying that the Indian armed forces had defeated Islamabad's evil designs two decades back.
Recalling the sacrifice of the Indian soldiers during the Kargil war, Modi said that victory in the war was a symbol of India's might and its security will remain impregnable with the dedication of the armed forces.
"Development is possible only if the country is secure. We will not come under any pressure when it comes to national security," Modi said.
"The Kargil victory was a symbol of India's might, determination, and capability," Modi said, with several military personnel and ex-servicemen present at the event. "Wars are fought not by governments but by the whole country. The Kargil victory still inspires the whole country... Kargil was the victory of every Indian."
Referring to Pakistan, Modi said some countries were resorting to proxy war to spread terrorism and the time has come for united global efforts to deal with it. He added that Pakistan had tried to redraw the boundaries in 1999 through the Kargil misadventure, but the Indian security forces had defeated its evil design. "I had visited Kargil when war was at its peak. It was like a pilgrimage to me," he said.
Modi also said that the nature of war today has changed. "Humanity and the world is a victim of pseudo-war, terrorism is challenging all of mankind," he said. "Those defeated in war are using pseudo-war to fulfill their political objectives and encouraging terrorism."
On the modernisation of armed forces, Modi said the time has come to ensure unity among the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. "Today the wars have reached the space. Wars are fought even in the cyber world today. So, the modernisation of defence forces is not only a necessity, but also our priority. Modernisation should be the identity of our defence forces," he said.
Modi also met the father of Captain Vikram Batra, who had lost his life in the Kargil War. Captain Vikram Batra was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
(With inputs from agencies)
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