Jaisalmer: Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned such forces against taking advantage of India’s tolerance and said the nation’s soldiers would give a “prachand jawab (fierce reply)” if borders were threatened.

He in a subtle but significant swipe at China, has hit out at “expansionist” forces that show a “distorted mindset which belongs to the 18th century”. He also said on Saturday “India believes in a policy of understanding and making others understand… but if an attempt to test our resolve is made, then the country will give a fierce reply”.

PM Modi celebrated Diwali with soldiers at the strategically key Longewala post in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer. “No force in the world can prevent our soldiers from protecting our borders. India has shown it has strength and the political will to give a befitting reply to those challenging it. The world now knows that India will not compromise with its interests even one bit,” he added.

Last week, Modi in his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), he called on members (this includes China and Pakistan) to “respect one another’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”. PM Modi’s comment about “expansionist” forces and warning to those threatening the country’s territorial integrity also comes a day after 11 people, including five soldiers, were killed in ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in several areas of northern J&K.

Prime Minister Modi also remembered the Battle of Longewala – an engagement during the 1971 war with Pakistan in which a small contingent of Indian soldiers repelled an attack by a significantly larger Pakistani infantry force backed up by tanks – and paid tribute to the heroic soldiers.