Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that Pakistan can neither fight a full-fledged nor a limited war with India.
As Parliament paid tributes to Indian soldiers on 20thanniversary of Kargil war, the Defence Minister told Lok Sabha that “thebravery and sacrifice of soldiers cannot be forgotten. Their unwavering courageand supreme sacrifice ensured the safety and sanctity of the country’sborders.”
“Our neighbouring country (Pakistan) cannot fight a full-fledged war or a limited war with India. It is fighting a proxy war,” he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shahwere also present in the House.
Congress leader in the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury saidthere should be a discussion on Kargil war.
In Rajya Sabha, Chairman and vcie-president M Venkaiah Naidupraised the courage and gallantry of Indian soldiers and said the nation willnever forget their sacrifice. Members stood in silence as they paid tributes tothose who laid down their lives in the Kargil conflict.
Later Singh along with his deputy Shripad Yesso Naik, andthe vice chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force — Lt Gen Devraj Anbu, Vice AdmiralG Ashok Kumar and Air Force Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria — paidhomage to the soldiers at the National War Memorial in the India Gate complexhere.
“Paid homage to martyred soldiers at the National WarMemorial in New Delhi on the occasion of 20th anniversary of Kargil VijayDiwas. Their unwavering courage and supreme sacrifice ensured the safety andsanctity of our borders,” Singh tweeted.
It was on July 26, 1999, dubbed ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’, thatIndian armed forces had declared a win in the Kargil conflict against Pakistanafter the neighbouring country’s infiltration.
The India Army responded to the intrusion with OperationVijay — the name given to India’s limited war against Pakistan in 1999,fighting battles on icy heights of Kargil.
After paying homage at the National War Memorial, theDefence Minister also wrote a message in the visitors’ book.”Homage to the brave soldiers of Kargil Warwho laid down their lives for the honour, prestige and pride of India. Theirvalour and sacrifice are a motivation for every Indian. On 20th anniversary ofKargil Vijay Diwas, we take a pledge that the grateful nation will never forgetthe supreme sacrifice the soldiers made for the country’s honour,” hewrote.