War is a last resort, peace cannot be achieved without power - PM Modi in Kargil : Diwali

"I have witnessed the Kargil war closely. It was my duty that had brought me to Kargil back then. There are many memories of that time when the sounds of victory were reverberating all around," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, continuing with the tradition set by him to celebrate Deepawali at the country's frontiers.

Addressing the armed forces in Kargil on Deepawali, the prime minister also recalled his visit to this frontier region in the Kargil conflict in 1999 when the Indian military had "crushed the hood of terror".

Since coming to power in 2014, Modi has been visiting different military facilities to celebrate Deepawali. After being re-elected to the high office in 2019, Modi celebrated Deepawali in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir. In 2020, he was at a border post of Longewala on Deepawali, while previous year in 2021, he was in Nowshera.

The prime minister said a nation is safe when its borders are secure, economy strong and society full of confidence.

India has always viewed war as the last resort, but the armed forces have the strength and strategies to give a befitting reply to anyone who casts an evil eye on the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday.

He said India has never viewed war as the first option. "We have always seen war as the final resort. We are in favour of global peace.. But peace cannot be achieved without strength," PM Modi said.

India has been dealing with its enemies, both external and internal, with force, PM Modi said and recounted the steps taken to "uproot" the "terror, naxalism and extremism" from within the country.

"There has not been a single war with Pakistan after Kargil has flown the victory flag," he said adding that Deepawali symbolised the "celebration of the end of terror".

"In Kargil, our armed forces had crushed the hood of terror and people still remember the Deepawali that was celebrated back then," he said.

Prime Minister Modi also said that "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" most important to the nation's security and the country's dependence should be minimal on foreign weapons and systems.

He said over the last eight years, the government has worked on implementing reforms in the armed forces by deploying new technologies, developing infrastructure in border areas and opening up positions for women in the forces.

"The induction of women in the armed forces will boost our strength," PM Modi said and added that reforms in the armed forces that were required for decades are now being implemented.