India will take all “necessary measures” toprotect and secure itself, President Ram Nath Kovind has said in Croatia,referring to the IAF strikes in Pakistan’s Balakot following the Pulwama attackby a JeM suicide bomber.
Tensions betweenIndia and Pakistan escalated last month after Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) killed 40CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14. The JeMclaimed responsibility for the attack.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) launched an operation against aJeM training camp in Balakot. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated anddowned a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot, who was handed overto India on March 1.
Kovind, the first-ever Indian head of state to visitCroatia, arrived here on Monday along with his wife Savita Kovind on the firstleg of his three-nation visit.
On Tuesday, he thanked the Croatian government for itssteadfast support against terrorism.
Speaking at an event here, Kovind said: “As for India,we have made it clear that we will take all necessary measures to protectourselves, to secure ourselves, so that we can provide for the welfare of ourpeople.”
“Peace and security are critical to foster thewell-being of humanity. We are deeply grateful to the Government of Croatia forits steadfast support against terrorism. The world needs to take decisiveactions against those who harbour and support terrorists,” the presidentsaid.
He also invited the Indian diaspora in the country to investin India and be a part of its transformational journey.
“The Indian economy is today an important engine ofglobal growth. It is the fastest growing major economy, with robust economicindicators… I would, therefore encourage you to visit India, and experiencethe transformative changes happening,” he said.
Noting that initiatives like ‘Make in India’, ‘DigitalIndia’ and ‘Start-up India’ provide new business prospects, Kovind said Indiaand Croatia are keen to deepen their relations, particularly on the economicside.
“A good foundation has already been laid, withinvestments by both sides. There is good potential to strengthen trade,investment and technology cooperation. Your support to explore new areas ofcollaboration would be invaluable,” the president said.
Kovind said Croatia has had affinity with India forcenturies and has made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of Indianlanguages, philosophy, history and culture.
“Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore visited here in 1926, andinfluenced many Croatian poets and writers. The Indology Department of ZagrebUniversity has made an outstanding contribution to the study and promotion ofIndian languages, philosophy, history and culture in Croatia. I am impressed toknow that it regularly organises conferences on Vedas and Puranas,” hesaid.
The values of democracy, pluralism and peace that Indiastands for, and its economic growth story, have combined to make India a forceto be reckoned with, Kovind said.
“We stand ready to work with everyone to find solutionsto global challenges. We are ready to extend a hand of friendship to one andall,” he said.