Pakistan tried to ‘backstab’ India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said Pakistan tried to "backstab" India despite New Delhi's efforts to keep friendly ties as he paid tribute to the Indian armed forces on the 21st anniversary of Kargil war in 1999.

"India can never forget the circumstances under which the battle of Kargil took place. Pakistan had embarked upon this misadventure, nursing delusions of encroaching upon Indian soil, to distract attention from the internal strife prevailing there.

"India was at that time making efforts to foster good relations with Pakistan," Modi said in his monthly radio address to the nation "Mann Ki Baat" aired yesterday.

"But as it is said, to the wicked, enmity with one and all for no reason comes naturally. People with such a disposition keep thinking of harming even their well-wishers… that is why when India extended a hand of friendship, Pakistan tried to respond, stabbing in the back," the Indian PM said.

However, he said the "gallant Indian army displayed deeds of valour when India demonstrated her might the whole world watched it. You can imagine….the enemy lodged in soaring mountainous heights and our armed forces, our brave soldiers fighting from down below! But it was not about victoriously conquering the heights….the high morale and true of our forces won against mountains."

"Thanks to the courage of our armed forces, India showed great strength in Kargil," Modi said, recalling his own visit to the area.

Kargil Diwas commemorates the day the Indian army recaptured all the Indian posts in Ladakh's Kargil area that had been occupied by Pakistan's army 21 years ago.

It was on July 26, 1999, that the Indian army had announced the successful culmination of "Operation Vijay" declaring victory after the nearly three-month battles in the icy heights of the Himalayas. More than 500 Indian soldiers died in that war.

"It was the victory of high morale and bravery of our armed forces in the truest sense of the term," Modi said.

In an apparent response to the opposition Congress Party's criticism of his government's handling of the recent border standoff with China in Ladakh, Modi said that "in times of war, whatever we say or do has immense bearing on the morale of the soldier, ever vigilant at the border, as well as the morale of his family.

"We should never forget this… and that is why our conduct, our demeanour, our speech, our statements, our limits, our aims… whatever we do and say, must distinctly be conducive to enhancing the morale & honour of our soldiers," he said.

The PM cautioned that the dangers of coronavirus are far from over and said the contagion is spreading at many places.

"….the hazards of Corona are far from being over. At many places, it is spreading fast. We need to be extra vigilant. We have to bear in mind that Corona is as fatal today as it was in the beginning – that's why we have to be fully cautious," he said.