With his voice echoing far and wide into the high and dry peaks of the Tololing ridge even as a Chinook heavy-lift helicopter continuously hovered overhead in a possible reconnaissance mission and just 9km away from the Line of Control (LoC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi let loose a no-holds-barred attack on Pakistan on Friday.
Pointing out that Pakistan has lost all wars, PM Modi said: “Pakistan has not learnt anything from its past and has continued to wage war in the garb of terrorism and proxy wars to stay relevant.”
In remarks that may be construed as reactive to a spate of recent terror attacks especially in the Jammu region, the PM said India would continue to hit back with full strength against terror and that the nefarious intentions of terrorists will never be fulfilled. “Our bravehearts will trample all the terror attempts,” he said.
The PM’s sledgehammer attack on Pakistan was on expected lines as he was attending an event at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass to mark 25 years of the decisive victory that saw Pakistan-backed intruders, comprising both regular troops and irregulars, being ejected from dominating positions on the Tololing ridge, about 9kms inside Indian territory in 1999.
The General Parvez Musharraf-led Pakistani Army’s main intention was to control the highway (NH 1) that would have cut off Ladakh from the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country.
Paying homage to the 547 fallen Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice, Modi attended the Shraddhanjali Samaroh and heard the ‘Gaurav Gatha: Briefing on Kargil War’ by NCOs. He said: “In Kargil, we not only won the war, we presented an incredible example of truth, restraint and strength... Kargil war heroes’ valour and patriotism ensured that India remained safe and secure…”
During the event that was attended by the country’s top military brass including the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, and the three services chiefs, the PM also witnessed ‘virtually’ the first blast of the Shinkun La Tunnel Project in Ladakh. “This tunnel will open doors of new possibilities for the development and better future of Ladakh,” Modi said.
The 4.1 km long Twin-Tube tunnel at 15,800 feet will enable efficient transfer of men and heavy from Manali and Leh, enabling much faster movement to strategic locations including to the LoC across Kargil and Siachen. Once completed, it will be the world’s highest tunnel.
Highlighting the importance of upgrading military technologies, the PM said the defence sector had felt the necessity to upgrade in the past as well, but unfortunately, this issue was not given much importance. “However, in the last 10 years, defence reforms have been prioritized, making our forces more capable and self-reliant.”
The PM batted strongly in favour of the Agnipath scheme of recruitment to the military. “Purpose of Agnipath is to keep forces young and continuously battle-ready… (it) will increase the strength of the country and the country will also get capable youth.”
“We have respected this decision taken by the armed forces because for us, the security of the country is more important than politics… the country and not the party is supreme for me.”
