KANPUR:
Claiming that there has been a decline in the number of infiltration bids along the Indo-Pak border, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said the country is giving a befitting reply to militants and this year around 30 insurgents have been killed in encounters.
“India has started giving a befitting reply to the Pakistani militants. One Indian soldier and a few police personnel have been killed during infiltration bids by militants but in response our army killed 28 to 30 of them in encounters,” he said during an interaction with reporters.
The Defence Minister, who was on a visit to state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and other defence equipment manufacturing companies in the city, said that firing aimed at Indian outposts provide a cover to militants attempting to enter the Indian territory.
Parrikar said now even our security forces are responding to the firing and the militant launching pads are on a lookout for opportunities to infiltrate but are not successful.
On a report about Pakistan stock-piling nuclear weapons, Parrikar said, “I do not want to comment as it is a sensitive issue. I have read the report but it is a Pakistani version so I do not want to say anything on it. India is in favour of ‘No First Use’ policy. But I would like to say that our country is a ahead of its neighbour in every sphere and is much stronger.”
Asked about Pakistan providing aid to militants, he said there are no good terrorists or bad terrorists. A terrorist is just a terrorist and strict action should be taken against them, he added.
“I did not have tea with them (Pakistani leaders),” Parrikar said when asked that instead of sending strong signals to Pakistan which was supporting militants, leaders of the two countries were having tea together. (AGENCIES)
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