Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India is following a “zero-tolerance policy" against terrorism, recalling the 2016 surgical strike as an example of the country’s response to cross-border terrorism.
Addressing the 138th episode of his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, PM Modi said the surgical strike of September 28-29, 2016, demonstrated India’s resolve to respond to terrorism.
His remarks came a day ahead of the 10th anniversary of the operation.
“Today, India is following a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, and we are also seeing the results of this approach," PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister described the surgical strike as a “major historical achievement" that was set to complete 10 years.
Recalling the operation, PM Modi said, “Ten years ago, on 28-29 September 2016, the Indian Army carried out a surgical strike on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan."
He said the world had been “astonished" by the manner in which Indian soldiers crossed the Line of Control (LoC) to take action against terrorism.
“The surgical strike boldly demonstrated a new example of India’s counter-terrorism policy to the entire world," the Prime Minister said.
PM Modi also described the operation as a response to the suffering caused by terrorist attacks over a prolonged period.
“It served as our decisive response to the long-standing suffering India had endured due to terrorist attacks," he said.
The surgical strike was conducted across the LoC following the September 18, 2016 terror attack on an Army camp in Uri. The operation targeted terrorist launch pads across the LoC.
‘Serial Blasts Had Become A Common Occurrence’
PM Modi also recalled several major terror attacks in India while explaining the context of his remarks on the country’s approach to terrorism.
“Terrorist attacks have hurt Bharat for a long time. There was a time when serial blasts were a common occurrence in Bharat," he said.
He referred to the September 13, 2008 serial blasts in Delhi, in which several people were killed, and the Mumbai terror attacks of November 26, 2008.
The Prime Minister said that in the past, after terrorist attacks, there were demands for action against Pakistan, but “not enough attention was paid to them".
“People used to wait for time to pass," he said.
PM Modi then contrasted that approach with what he described as India’s current policy.
"Now today’s Bharat is moving forward with a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, and we are seeing its results as well," he said.
PM Modi Pays Tribute To Terror Victims
The Prime Minister also referred to the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States and recalled visiting New York in 2014 to pay his respects to those killed at the World Trade Center.
He expressed condolences to families in India who had been affected by terrorism.
Source: News18