Article Posted on : - Aug 09, 2017

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley during his address in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. A PTI photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): Amid the border standoff with China, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said the Indian armed forces are strong enough to meet any challenge to the country's security as he underlined that lessons have been learnt from the 1962 war.

He also said in the Rajya Sabha that the people of the country have a predominant wish of retrieving the parts of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan since 1948.

Jaitley, while initiating a special debate to mark the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942, said India had faced many challenges over these decades but "we can proudly say the country became stronger with each challenge".

He said India had "learnt a lesson" from the 1962 war with China that "the armed forces will have be made fully capable on our own because even today the nation faces challenges from our neighbouring countries."

Compared to 1962, the armed forces were made stronger in 1965 and 1971 wars, Jaitley said.

In 1962, India had to face a war imposed by China and suffer severe reverses. However, in the wars of 1965 and 1971 thrust by Pakistan, India had emerged victorious.

"I agree that some challenges are still there. Some people are targeting our country's sovereignty and integrity.

But I am fully confident that our brave soldiers have capabilty to keep our country secure, may it be challenges on the eastern border or the western border," he said.

"The armed forces can give any kind of sacrifice for the security of the nation," the defence minister asserted.

Jaitley's message assumes significance as it comes amid a two-month-long border standoff with China in Doklam even though he did not specifically mention it.

He also referred to the occupation of parts of J&K by Pakistan soon after the Independence.

"Initially (after Independence), we faced a crisis. Our neighbour had an eye on Kashmir. Even today, we cannot forget that a part of the country has got separated. It is a wish of every Indian today as to how to retrieve that part," the minister said.

Jaitley, who is Leader of the Rajya Sabha, said today was the day to commit to make India a strong, just and economically-progressive country.