Srinagar: In a stern warning to Pakistan as he toured the border areas, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said if Islamabad continues to pursue the policy of bleeding India by “a thousand cuts”, it will have to suffer itself.
Singh, who is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir beginning today, said Pakistan continuously tries to disturb peace in India but the Indian forces were giving a befitting reply.
He arrived in the Valley in the morning and visited forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) to take stock of the security situation there.
Singh was accompanied by Army Chief General Manoj Pande, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi and other top officers.
“Our neighbour has always resorted to anti-India activities,” the Defence Minister said as he assessed the security situation in Kashmir against the backdrop of a surge recently in targeted killings by Pakistan-backed terrorists in the Valley.
“Pakistan continuously tries to disturb peace in this country (India) by using its policy ‘bleed India by a thousand cuts’. But, our security forces are such a protective shield for this country that whoever tries to break it, bleeds himself,” he added while addressing the troops close to the LoC.
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Singh said Jammu and Kashmir witnessed terror activities in the past.
“Due to the relentless efforts of the personnel of Armed Forces, BSF, CRPF & J&K Police, there has been a significant decline in the number of terror activities in the state recently,” he said.
He noted that India is a peace-loving country, which has always given the message of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the whole world is one family).
“We have never tried to hurt any country in any way. Nor have we tried to capture even an inch of anyone’s land,” Singh said, but added if an attempt is ever made to hurt the unity and integrity of the Nation, the Armed Forces will give a befitting reply.
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The minister expressed confidence that the armed forces will face any future challenges with full strength.
