By Farooq Wani
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas on Friday was both firm and focused. He dwelt at length on national challenges of countering terror including Pakistan’s sponsorship of cross-border terrorism and also emphasised the need for the continuation of developmental activities on a war footing.
Addressing all ranks of the armed forces and distinguished guests invited to the ceremony at Kargil War Memorial in Drass, the Prime Minister unambiguously exposed Pakistan’s proxy war against India.
He recalled how India’s response to the unprovoked Kargil intrusions by the Pakistan army twenty-five years ago had sent out a clear message to the world that tolerance and restraint has its limits, and if pushed against the wall, India possesses both the determination and requisite military capability to effectively neutralise any threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Modi’s message to Pakistan was clear – don’t mess with India to keep yourself relevant and warned that patrons of terrorism would be crushed. That he delivered his address “from a place where the masters of terror (read Pakistan) can hear my voice directly”, left an impact on the minds of all citizens tuning-in their TVs to watch the poignant ceremony to honour those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to safeguard the nation.
For the armed forces, this moment of tribute was both proud and solemn. It was also a reiteration of strong political will with regard to defence of the motherland. It was a reiteration of the government’s firm intent to prioritise defence reforms, including a recalibration of the newly introduced Agnipath recruitment scheme for the armed forces.
Modi used the occasion to caution the opposition not to mislead the nation’s youth by spreading misconceptions such as “the government’s desire to stop or reduce pensions for the armed forces recruits after 30 years of service.”
The NDA government insists that the Agnipath Scheme is a departure from the decades-old armed forces recruitment system. It claims that this revised recruitment system will expose a larger number of Indian youths to the army way of life and instil a sense of discipline and responsibility, besides a spirit of patriotism.
The government has already taken due cognisance of the criticism some issues of this new scheme has attracted, like the basic four-year tenure for Agniveers, or why only 25 percent of the recruits will be absorbed as regular soldiers, and work is in progress to address genuine concerns.
The armed forces are keen to fix the age ceiling for Agnipath inductees at 23 years and retain at least 50 percent of the inductees after four years to boost combat effectiveness, and address the shortage of manpower in specialised and technical areas.
The Prime Minister made it abundantly clear that national security is paramount and non-negotiable. This reiteration assumes critical relevance at a time when the Jammu region of J&K is witnessing resurgence of Pakistan sponsored terrorist activity, and the quick deployment of additional forces to rid this area of the scourge of terrorism is proof of the center’s firm resolve.
He also underscored the need for infrastructure development in J&K and Ladakh, besides the need to dream big to ensure a brighter future for one and all. The first of many pro-developmental steps had been taken with the revocation of Article 370 five years ago, he added. He said J&K is now breathing freely and tourism is flourishing by leaps and bounds.
Modi’s inauguration of the of the 4.1-km-long twin-tube Shinkun La Tunnel Project being constructed at a height of about 15,800 feet, on the Nimu-Padum-Darcha Road, on Friday, will provide two benefits-one, increase all weather mobility and thereby foster socio-economic development across Ladakh, and two, allow for swift and efficient movement of the armed forces and equipment in the event of a conflict.
What has been Islamabad’s reaction to the speech? Predictably, its Foreign Office (FO) has said, “Rhetorical statements cannot deflect international attention”, nor can the world ignore “India’s efforts to suppress” the people of Kashmir.” It has reiterated that the people of Kashmir are still struggling for “just fundamental rights and freedoms”, and described Delhi’s schemes for J&K as jingoistic and mere verbal bravado.
The FO’s observations and remarks reflect Islamabad’s utter desperation. After having interacted with people of Kashmir during the G 20 Summit, representatives from all over the world are aware of the factual situation prevailing in Kashmir and hence Pakistan’s claim of the people of Kashmir being “suppressed” is laughable!
India desires normal and good relations with Pakistan, and has rightly placed the onus on Islamabad to create an environment free of terror for any meaningful engagement in this regard.
It’s time Pakistan realised that J&K and Ladakh are, and will always be, an integral and inalienable part of India. So, instead of wasting its time and energy in trying to sell its unconvincing Kashmir narrative, Islamabad should pay more attention to repair its floundering economy and concentrate on tackling the home-grown terrorism menace.
The Indian Prime Minister’s message to Pakistan is loud and clear – learn from your past and walk the path of peace!
(The author is Editor Brighter Kashmir, Author, TV commentator, political analyst and columnist.)
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