Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the improved connectivity in the border areas in Himalayan region is a big game changer for the Indian soldiers to defy terrorists and enemies across the borders.
Celebrating Diwali with the soldiers at Nowshera in Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Modi said India was marching ahead with mission of self-reliance in the defense sector and would become as defence equipment exporter.
He said there was no connectivity in many border areas, today there is a network of roads, bridges, optical fiber communication network that has transformed the moment of soldiers in these areas. He further said the connectivity from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh and from Jaislmer to Andaman islands have improved facilitating movement of soldiers along the borders.
Modi said the country is progressing on the path of Atamnirbhar Bharat. They have dedicated seven ordnance factories in the country and two new defense corridors are coming up in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pardesh. Today 65% of the defense budget expenditure is being spent on procurement within the country and India is fast becoming as defence equipment x exporter, he said.
Meanwhile, Indian and Pak troops exchanged sweets at Uri and Kupwara, Tithwal bridge in a spirit of Diwali prompting peace along the LOC, say the defense sources.
He further said the connectivity from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh and from Jaislmer to Andaman islands have improved facilitating movement of soldiers along the borders.