Quest For Peace Not At The Cost Of Self-Respect: PM

Forces will respond to attempts to destroy peace in nation

India staunchly believes in peace and is committed to taking it forward, but it would not be at the cost of compromising its self-­respect and sovereignty, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday as he asserted that the armed forces would give a befitting reply to any attempt to destroy the atmosphere of peace in the country.

Recalling the 2016 surgical strikes, Mr. Modi said Indian troops gave a suitable reply to the “audacity of a proxy war” under the “garb of terrorism.”

‘Befitting reply’

In his monthly Mann ki Baat radio address, Mr. Modi said, “It has now been decided that our soldiers will give a befitting reply to whosoever makes an attempt to destroy the atmosphere of peace and progress in our nation.”

India had never eyed someone else’s territory maliciously. “This in itself was our commitment and dedication towards peace,” he said. Mr. Modi’s remarks came days after India called off the meeting with the Pakistan Foreign Minister in New York.