No Pak soldier, citizen died in Balakot strikes: Sushma

Kashmir Times. Dated: 4/19/2019 10:43:45 AM

AHMEDABAD, Apr 18(Agencies): No Pakistani soldier or citizen died in the air strike carried out by the Indian Air Force across the border in response to Pulwama terror attack in February on a terror camp at Balakot in Pakistan, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Thursday.
Addressing women party workers here, she said Indian military was given a “free hand” in the operation but was clearly told that no Pakistani citizen should be killed and also there be “not be even a scratch” on the Pakistani army.
“Our armed forces were told to target only Jaish-e- Mohammed which was behind the Pulwama terror attack and they did just that - destroyed their camp and returned,” the senior BJP leader said.
She stressed on a 2014-like full majority BJP-led government this time also, saying former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee could not do everything which he wanted to because he was heading a coalition administration.
Swaraj said the air strike was carried out in self- defence. “When we carried out air strike across the border after the Pulwama terror attack, we had told the international community that we took that step in self-defence only,” she said. She said the entire international community supported India over the air strike.
Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Swaraj said he emerged as a top international leader who sets the agenda for the world.
On the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, Swaraj said the then Congress-led UPA government had failed to take along other countries to isolate Pakistan despite the fact that 40 persons belonging to 14 countries were also killed in the strike.
Pakistan had objected to the invitation extended to India for a meet of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Abu Dhabi last month, but the host county UAE snubbed Islamabad, she said.
She alleged that the then UPA government had missed a big opportunity to isolate the neighbouring country after 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in 2008 when a total of 166 people including 40 foreigners from 14 countries were killed.
She said that the then UPA government at Centre could have used the opportunity to isolate Pakistan with the help of 14 countries whose nationals were also killed in the one of the largest terror attacks on the Indian soil. But it did nothing and missed a big opportunity.
She said that contrary to that during Modi government, after Uri terror attack surgical strike and after Pulwama attack aerial strike were conducted and also Pakistan has been isolated completely internationally.
“When we told the international community that we gave free hand to our army for strikes but specifically told them to ensure that not even a single innocent Pakistani was killed, they all lauded us and sided with us. We also did not conduct the strike from our side but did it for self defence,” she said.
Highlighting the diplomatic victory of Modi Government, she also said that after these attacks despite Pakistan’s objections India participated in the event held on the occasion of 50th foundation day of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) as guest of honour this year.
“This OIC has 57 members and is the second largest organization of countries only after the United Nations. When it was founded in 1969, India was invited too but when our the then Minister of External Affairs late Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed arrived in Morocco to participate in Pakistan objected to it. He could not participate in it. And now when Modi ji is our PM, when Pakistan objected to the invitation tendered to India for the 50th foundation day event held in Abu Dhabi what happened.
The foreign minister of UAE rejected it. India participated as guest of honour. Pakistan boycotted and nobody bothered about it. I was on the dais while the chair meant for Pakistan remained vacant,” she said.
Earlier talking about LS polls, she said that election was like a battle and like a good-warrior, the party workers doing campaign should have two weapons in the form or ‘knowledge of facts’ and ‘powerful arguments’ with the help of which even the opponents could be win-over.
She said that there were three main issues – what the Government has done for the national security, development of the country and for people’s welfare- about which the campaigners should tell the people. She shared details about the three issues with statistics and appealed the workers and people to spread the words and ensure the victory of Modi government with a bigger mandate.
Swaraj also lauded BJP president and party candidate from Gandhinagar LS seat Amit Shah saying that no one could do the kind of labour he had done for strengthening the party.

 

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