Ready to cross LoC if need arises: Rajnath Singh on Kargil Vijay Diwas

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that India will cross the Line of Control (LoC) in the future if there is a need to do so asserting that a war is not just between two armies but between two countries as well.

Speaking on the occasion of the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas in Drass, Singh said that even after winning the war on July 26, 1999, Indian forces did not cross the LoC only because the country is peace-loving and has a commitment to international laws.

“We believe in Indian values, and we have a commitment to international law. At that time if we did not cross the LoC it does not mean that we could not cross the LoC. We could cross the LoC, we can cross the LoC and will cross the LoC in future if there is a need, I assure the countrymen,” Singh who visited the Kargil War Memorial, claimed.

The Defence Minister said that the Kargil was imposed on India by Pakistan and paid tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives during the battle. “We were backstabbed by Pakistan… the war was imposed on India. I salute our brave sons who put the country first and sacrificed their lives,” he said.

Singh urged the citizens of the country to extend their support to the soldiers directly during the times of war if a need arises. He asserted that the Army will go to any extremes to maintain the honor and dignity of the country.

The Indian Army in 1999 had retaliated with a fierce counterassault to push back Pakistani forces which had occupied the important heights in Ladakh. The Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed to mark India’s victory over Pakistan in the war.