Pakistan pleaded to stop firing: Manohar Parrikar

Panaji: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the firing from across the border had stopped in the last two days as the enemy was feeling the heat of retaliation.

“After the surgical strike, the cowardly attacks continued which were retaliated strongly by our Armed Forces on the border. Our response to their attacks was strong. “The day before Friday we got a call from them pleading us to stop the retaliation,” Parrikar said, referring to request for DGMO-level talks from Pakistan. He was speaking at a rally at Sankhalim village in Goa.

“We told them that we don’t mind stopping (the counter attacks) as we are not interested in it, provided they too stop it. For last two days, the firing has stopped from across the border,” the defence minister said.

“For the first time Union government allowed the Army to enter PoK and teach lesson to those involved in the cowardly act against our forces,” he said, referring to surgical strike after Uri attack. “There is no doubt that our Armed Forces are brave but also for the first time, country’s leadership took strict policy decision (to allow the surgical strike),” he said.

His becoming the defence minister was a way to repay a debt of Armed Forces which liberated Goa from Portuguese rule in 1961, he said. “When I was invited to join the Union Cabinet, I was not willing. It was hurting me to leave Goa. But when Prime Minister requested, I had to take up the responsibility.”

“As a Goan I was always indebted to the Armed Forces which has given my freedom to me. Unlike Britishers, Portuguese did not leave the country peacefully. They were forced out by our Armed Forces. This was an opportunity for me to thank Indian Army for liberating Goa,” he said.