PRIME Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has delivered a terse message -- to Pakistan and also to the world -- about India’s clearly defined approach to national security. Nothing can daunt India -- neither the conventional conflict nor the threat of nuclear weapons. India never favours war, but also never accepts terrorism, the Prime Minister said in his first address to the nation -- and the world -- after the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent confrontation. Nobody will miss the message that India believes in building comprehensive strength through which passes the path of peace. Against the background of what happened after India’s precision-strikes of terror camps and pads in Pakistan and Occupied Kashmir, the Prime Minister’s message assumes a special importance. For, when India displayed its military might and advanced warfare capabilities, Pakistan backed down -- and sought an immediate cessation of armed hostilities. That realisation came to Pakistan when it realised that its nuclear umbrella, too, had been breached by India’s long-distance strikes through missiles and drones.

 

To that scare was further added the reality that Indian devices could smash the Pakistani air defence system over Lahore and Rawalpindi and even Islamabad. On the other side of the divide, Indian installations were untouched having been protected by a near-impregnable air defence system -- that also downed as many as three Pakistani fighter jets of the American and Chinese makes. When Pakistan realised its own ineptness and when the threat of a nuclear attack -- though only perceived -- loomed large, Pakistan buckled and sought an immediate ceasefire. Mr. Narendra Modi minced no words describing these developments -- though stated cautiously -- and said that Pakistan chose to back down when it realised its severe limitations. Not just Pakistan, but also the world got the right message from India. The Prime Minister’s words were clear, tone rather tough, and his facial expression very serious -- so much so that even the political Opposition in the country got the right message, so to say. True, there was no mention of domestic politics in his statement, but the message did go across loud and clear.

 

The whole nation heard the speech in rapt attention and felt a sense of pride that India was in safe hands. Even as the Prime Minister delivered his message, the famed Indian Armed Forces also made it clear that they were immensely successful in cornering Pakistan in every which the way. The statement of the Director General of Naval Operations Vice Admiral Pramod made things clearer when he said with its clearly visible operational edge, the Indian Navy pushed Pakistan back to the wall with no escape route. Then came the urgent move by Pakistan to seek an immediate ceasefire. The Prime Minister also made it amply clear in his address that it was Pakistan that sought a cessation of military activity -- which Indian agreed to only after Islamabad made a promise to hold back its misadventure. What the Prime Minister’s address achieved was new high in national unity of purpose and action. Very rarely does the nation experience such a unified response to any national crisis. This was also a facet of the “new normal” which Mr. Narendra Modi had talked about a day earlier -- the facet of national resolve to stand together and defeat terrorism and any activity inimical to Indian interests in any field, in any manner, and by anybody. Now the nation looks forward to such a resolute unity of the Indian people in every challenge -- small and big -- of the future, no matter who is in power. For, when national interest is supreme, nothing else matters. The Prime Minister’s speech delivered this no-nonsense message firmly.