Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during an election rally in Bagalkote that he had informed the Pakistani authorities before attacking anyone else after the Balakote airstrike in 2019.
In Short
- PM Modi says he doesn’t “believe in attacking from behind”
- He says he had first informed Pakistan after Balakot airstrike
- Balakot airstrikes were conducted by Indian Air Force on terror hideouts in 2019
During an election rally in Bagalkote, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made remarks regarding the Balakot airstrikes of 2019, emphasizing his commitment to transparency and ethical conduct in military operations.
He stated that he had informed Pakistani authorities before conducting any further attacks following the Balakot airstrike.
Modi asserted, “I don’t believe in attacking from the back,” highlighting his preference for open and upfront engagement.
Speaking at the rally, Modi recounted the events surrounding the Balakot airstrikes, explaining that he had instructed the Indian forces to inform the media about the airstrikes but had first attempted to inform Pakistani authorities via phone.
However, when Pakistani authorities did not respond to his calls, he instructed the forces to wait until the message could be conveyed.
Only after informing Pakistani authorities did India publicly disclose the airstrikes, demonstrating Modi’s commitment to transparency and adherence to established protocols in military engagements.
The Balakot airstrikes were conducted by the Indian Air Force on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan on February 26, 2019, in response to a terrorist attack on Indian paramilitary personnel in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, on February 14, 2019.
Modi also addressed concerns regarding the misuse of technology, particularly the creation of fake videos, during election campaigns.
He warned against the misuse of artificial intelligence to manipulate videos, urging people to report such instances to the authorities or BJP workers to ensure legal action against the perpetrators.
Furthermore, Modi urged voters to support the BJP, emphasizing that a strong mandate would enable him to continue efforts to make India the third-largest economy globally and a manufacturing and skill development hub.
He criticized the previous Congress government in Karnataka, accusing them of neglecting Bengaluru’s tech industry and prioritizing the interests of the “tanker mafia” over addressing the water crisis in the state.
Accompanied by BJP leaders, including B S Yediyurappa, and candidates from Bagalkote and Vijayapura, the rally served as a platform for Modi to reaffirm his party’s agenda and rally support ahead of the upcoming elections.