Post-surgical strikes against Pakistani terrorists, Modi says India not hungry for land

Days after Indian troops carried out special strikes targeting Pakistani terrorists across LoC, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has underlined that India has never coveted any territory or attacked another country though it made sacrifices for the freedom of others. “…It is neither hungry for land. But in the two World Wars (in which India had no direct stake), 1.5 lakh Indian soldiers had laid down their lives,” Modi said after inaugurating the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra, a majestic complex dedicated to nearly 27 million Indians living abroad. “In the last two years, you have seen how the government rescued people from conflict situations, not just Indians but foreigners too,” Mr Modi said while alluding to his government’s rescue missions in conflict zones, including Libya, Iraq, Yemen and Ukraine. Mr Modi’s remarks were aimed at the international community which has expressed concerns over escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan following the Indian Army’s special operation to target seven terror launch pads across Line of Control, in response to the Uri terror strike perpetrated by Pakistani militants. Mr Modi had vowed that those behind the Uri terror attack will not go unpunished. To call Pakistan to account for the Uri assault, India has combined both diplomatic strategy as well as focused military action as seen in cross-border strikes at Pakistani terrorists trying to infiltrate the LOC. The international community has robustly rallied in support of India in the aftermath of the Uri attack and condemned terrorism emanating from Pakistan. A defensive Pakistan has accused India of war-mongering in the wake of the Uri attack in north Kashmir.