Modi asserts cross-border terrorism will be crushed From Kargil

Modi chose to send the tough message to Pakistan from Kargil, where India delivered a humiliating defeat to Pakistan in a short war in 1999 by killing and evicting thousands of Pakistani troops from the mountain peaks of Drass-Kargil sector across the Line of Control (LoC ) which they had illegally occupied.

It was on this day that ceasefire was announced and it is celebrated by India as 'Kargil Vijay Divas'.

Addressing a gathering of serving and retired officers of the armed forces after paying tributes to the soldiers who participated in the Kargil War, the Prime Minister said Pakistan has not learned any lessons from past defeats and mistakes.

Modi said Pakistan has faced defeats for all its immoral and shameful attempts in the past but it is still trying to keep itself "relevant with the help of terrorism and proxy war".

The Prime Minister also justified the Agnipath scheme and attacked the Opposition parties, accusing them of politicizing the issue.

He termed the Agnitpath scheme as a "necessary reform" to make the army young and keep it battle-ready.

The PM said some people are spreading myths that the government has brought the Agnipath scheme to save pension costs.

“The pension burden of the soldiers being recruited today will come up after 30 years. Therefore, this cannot be the reason behind the scheme. We have respected this decision taken by the armed forces because for us the security of the country is more important than politics”, he added.