Srinagar: Asserting that by conducting surgical strike (in PoK), India has announced its new strategy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said ‘we will break the backbone of terrorism in the valley’.

“Today I want to assure the people of the state and rest of the country that terrorism will be countered… and every militant will be given a befitting reply,” PM Modi said after inaugurating and laying foundation stones of various developmental projects at SK International Conference Centre (SKICC) on the bank of Dal Lake here on Sunday.

“We will break the backbone of terrorism,” he added.

Paying rich tribute to Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani and other people who sacrificed their lives for the country, he said they are the real heroes of the nation. “Martyred Nazir Ahmad Wani, martyred Aurangzeb and youth like Tajamul Islam are the heroes of Jammu and Kashmir who have dedicated their lives for the development of this country,” he added.

He said any person who strives hard to fulfill dreams is a hero. “Any person who ruins someone’s dream is the biggest coward,” he said.

“Today, every citizen of this country is angered by the killings of innocent and unarmed youths in Kashmir valley only because they want peace…. They are being targeted by militants… that’s the truth of militancy,” Mr Modi added.