NEW DELHI — Marking 25 years since the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the victims, noting that Indian citizens constituted the largest group of foreign nationals killed at the World Trade Center. Speaking during his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address, the Prime Minister extended renewed condolences to bereaved families while linking global terror threats to India’s firm counter-terrorism stance.
Remembrance and Diplomatic Echoes at UNGA
Recalling his 2014 visit to the 9/11 Memorial in New York shortly after assuming office, Prime Minister Modi expressed solidarity on behalf of the nation. The timing of his remarks coincided with sharp diplomatic exchanges at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where Indian diplomat Petal Gahlot exercised India’s right of reply against Pakistan. Citing the hiding place of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, India reiterated its stance on cross-border terrorism and state-sponsored safe havens.
A Decade Since the Surgical Strikes
The Prime Minister used the occasion to highlight a decade of transformation in India’s national security policy, focusing on key historical milestones:
-
10th Anniversary of Surgical Strikes: PM Modi noted that September 28–29 marks ten years since the 2016 Surgical Strikes, when Indian Special Forces crossed the Line of Control (LoC) to destroy terror launchpads following the Uri attack.
-
Shift from Past Hesitation: Reflecting on past tragedies, including the September 13, 2008 Delhi serial blasts and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the Prime Minister observed that previous calls for decisive action were often delayed or ignored.
-
Proactive Security Doctrine: Citing subsequent military responses—from the 2019 Balakot airstrike to the recent Operation Sindoor—PM Modi emphasized that India now enforces a proactive “zero-tolerance” policy that delivers a direct response to cross-border threats.
Asserting that serial blasts were once a frequent occurrence in Indian cities, Prime Minister Modi affirmed that a firm, preemptive approach has established strong deterrence against anti-national forces.
