Surgical strikes decision was a ‘big risk’ but I was more concerned about safety of soldiers: Modi

New Delhi:  Before going public with the surgical strikes, India waited an hour to first inform Pakistan about the operation that was launched in 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, addressing the Indian diaspora in London.

“Since 11 in the morning, we were trying to contact them over the phone but they were afraid and wouldn’t take our call. I had instructed our officers to tell the Pakistani army that we did it. We did not hide it. At noon, they answered the call. We told them,” said PM Modi answering a question at a townhall called ‘Bharat ki Baat, Sabke Saath’.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Modi said “he was filled with rage over the atrocities that Indian Army personnel had to face after Pakistan-sponsored terrorists attacked Uri in 2016”.

“I gave clear orders that whether you succeed or fail, don’t think about that and come back before sunrise. Don’t fall for the lure and prolong it (the operation),” the Prime Minister said.

The surgical strikes were carried out 10 days after the deadly Uri attack that killed 19 Indian soldiers on 18 September 2016.

Modi said that he was anxious throughout the operation as the safety and security of Indian soldiers were paramount to him. “I knew it was a big risk… The biggest consideration for me was the safety of our soldiers,” he told ANI in an interview.