Will fight on foreign soil if there is a threat, says NSA Ajit Doval at Rishikesh ashram – ThePrint

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New Delhi: If India senses a threat, it will surely fight, on our soil and on foreign soil, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has said.

Addressing a function at Rishikesh-based Parmarth Niketan ashram Saturday, Doval sought to discuss Indias policy towards threats to national security.

In a video clip of the address, posted to the ashrams Facebook page, he is heard saying, You said we have never attacked There are views about it, that if there was danger from somewhere, we should have done it to save the country it is important

It is not necessary that we only fight where you want to, but where the threat originates, he adds. Doval then says India fights where we feel the threat is coming.

We have never done it for selfish reasons. We will surely fight, on our soil and on foreign soil, but not for our personal interests. But in the interests of parmarth (spirituality), he says.

As the remarks come amid Indias border stand-off with China, some media reports sought to portray Dovals statement as a warning to Beijing.

However, ANI quoted government officials as saying that the NSA was speaking purely in a civilisational and spiritual context and was not referring to any country or specific situation.

Also Read: Why has Indias China policy been such a failure? Question New Delhis assumptions first

In other parts of his address at the ashram, the NSA described India as a civilisation state not based on any religion, language or sect, saying its foundation is based on its culture.

Seers (rishis and munis) founded the nation (rashtra) exclusive of the state (rajya) of India, he said.

We dont protect the nation, we secure the state. State (rajya) has definite boundaries. The nation (rashtra) is safeguarded by those who founded it. It is founded by you, he added, addressing the spiritual leaders at the ashram.

Even if the state is not around, the nation will continue to be there, he added.

You fight with spirituality, he said.

Also Read: Lesson from Ladakh India & China were both rising together until China just raced away

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Will fight on foreign soil if there is a threat, says NSA Ajit Doval at Rishikesh ashram - ThePrint