Patel's 1947 advice to reclaim PoK ignored: PM's Nehru jab

Terrorism is not a proxy war but Pakistan's war strategy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday as he launched a veiled attack at Jawaharlal Nehru, criticising the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty and alleging that Vallabhbhai Patel's desire to reclaim Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir was not honoured.

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On the second day of his two-day trip to Gujarat, Modi said India had resolved to remove the "thorn" of terrorism, underlined that Operation Sindoor was done in a way that no one could ask for proof, pledged to make India the world's third-largest economy, and pushed for more local products.

"We cannot call this a proxy war, as those who were killed after May 6 were given state honours in Pakistan. Pakistani flags were draped over their coffins, and their military saluted them. This proves that these terrorist activities are not just a proxy war, this is a deliberate war strategy on their part," the PM said in Gandhinagar.

"If they are engaging in war, then the response will be accordingly," he added.

Modi linked the cross-border strikes with decades of unresolved aggression from across the border. He referred to India's Partition and said the first terrorist attack happened in Kashmir, and a part of the country's land was taken as a result of this action.

"During Partition, Maa Bharati (Mother India) was divided, and that very night, the first terror attack on Kashmir was launched by Mujahideens," Modi said, adding that with the help of these terrorists, Pakistan captured a "part of Mother India".

"(Then Union home minister) Sardar Patel was of the opinion that the Indian army should not have stopped until Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) was reclaimed. However, Patel's advice was not heeded. They (Pakistan and terrorists backed by it) tasted blood," he said, taking a veiled swipe at India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

"This legacy of terrorism has continued for the last 75 years and the terror attacks in Pahalgam was another horrific form of it. Despite playing diplomatic games, Pakistan repeatedly faced India's military strength in war. On three occasions, India's armed forces decisively defeated Pakistan, making it clear that Pakistan could not triumph in a direct military conflict with India," Modi said.