2016 Surgical Strike marks 10 years: Modi recalls India's anti-terror resolve in Mann Ki Baat
Synopsis
As the 2016 surgical strike approaches its 10th anniversary, PM Modi used Mann Ki Baat's 138th episode to cast it as the defining proof of India's zero-tolerance counter-terror doctrine — contrasting it directly with the pre-2014 era when attacks like 26/11 went unanswered. The milestone speech signals the government's intent to keep the strike at the centre of India's national security narrative.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi addressed the 138th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' on 27 September 2026 .
Modi marked the approaching 10th anniversary of the 2016 surgical strike , carried out on 28-29 September 2016 against terrorist hideouts across the LoC .
He contrasted India's current zero-tolerance anti-terrorism policy with the pre-2014 period, citing the 13 September 2008 Delhi blasts and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks as instances of inadequate response.
Modi also paid tribute to Indian victims of the 9/11 attacks , marking 25 years since the World Trade Center strikes.
The remarks signal the government's intent to frame the surgical strike as a landmark in India's strategic and security identity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 27 September 2026, used the 138th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' to mark the approaching 10th anniversary of the 2016 surgical strike, calling it a defining demonstration of India's anti-terrorism policy to the world. The surgical strike was carried out by the Indian Army on 28-29 September 2016 against terrorist hideouts across the Line of Control (LoC).
Modi Recalls the Surgical Strike
Addressing the nation, Modi described the operation as one of India's most significant historical achievements. 'Ten years ago, on 28-29 September 2016, the Indian Army carried out a surgical strike on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. The world was astonished to see how our brave soldiers took action against terrorism by crossing the Line of Control. Our Jawans treated the terrorists and amazed the world. The surgical strike showcased India's anti-terrorism policy to the world,' the Prime Minister said.
He drew a direct line between the nation's long experience with terrorism and the military response. 'Due to terrorism, India has felt pain for so long. Against that pain, our befitting reply was the surgical strike,' Modi added.
A Pattern of Zero-Tolerance, Modi Argues
The Prime Minister said India had repeatedly signalled in recent years that attacks on its soil would invite a strong and swift response. 'In the last few years, India has repeatedly given a response that if terrorists lay their eyes on India, they will face strict action,' he said.
Modi cited earlier terror incidents to underscore how the country's posture had shifted. He recalled the serial blasts in Delhi on 13 September 2008, in which several innocent lives were lost, and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks later that same year as episodes that once went without adequate retaliatory action. 'Earlier too, after every terrorist attack, action was demanded against Pakistan, but not enough attention was paid to them. People used to wait for time to pass. Now today's Bharat is moving forward with a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, and we are seeing its results as well...' he said.
Tribute to Indian Victims of 9/11
Modi also reflected on the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks in the United States, noting that Indian nationals were among those killed at the World Trade Center. 'This year, it has been 25 years since the 9/11 attacks. The World Trade Center, where many Americans lost their lives, also saw many Indians among the victims. I remember when I went to America in 2014 after becoming Prime Minister, I paid my tribute to the Indian civilians who lost their lives,' he said.
Significance of the Milestone
The 2016 surgical strike remains one of the most politically and militarily consequential operations in post-Independence India, representing the first publicly acknowledged cross-LoC offensive strike by Indian forces against terror infrastructure in territory administered by Pakistan. The anniversary comes at a moment when India's counter-terrorism posture continues to be a central theme in domestic politics and bilateral relations with Pakistan. Modi's remarks in 'Mann Ki Baat' underscore the ruling government's intent to frame the strike as a lasting symbol of strategic resolve — a narrative it has consistently reinforced ahead of electoral cycles. How the anniversary is marked by the armed forces and the government in the coming days is expected to draw renewed public and diplomatic attention.
Point of View
And this Mann Ki Baat address reinforces that frame ahead of the formal commemorations. What mainstream coverage often underplays is the contrast being drawn: by naming the 2008 Delhi blasts and 26/11 in the same breath, Modi is implicitly indicting the previous dispensation's restraint — a comparison that carries electoral weight. The more substantive question is whether the zero-tolerance doctrine has produced durable deterrence, or whether it risks being reduced to an anniversary ritual without a broader regional security architecture to back it up.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi say about the 2016 surgical strike in Mann Ki Baat?
PM Modi said the 2016 surgical strike, carried out by the Indian Army on 28-29 September 2016 against terrorist hideouts across the Line of Control, demonstrated India's anti-terrorism resolve to the world. He described it as one of the country's most significant historical achievements and said it reflected a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism.
When is the 10th anniversary of the 2016 surgical strike?
The 10th anniversary of the 2016 surgical strike falls on 28-29 September 2026, the dates on which the Indian Army crossed the Line of Control and struck terrorist hideouts in 2016. PM Modi noted the milestone in the 138th episode of Mann Ki Baat on 27 September 2026.
Which past terror attacks did PM Modi reference in his speech?
Modi referenced the serial blasts in Delhi on 13 September 2008 and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks later that year. He said these incidents had gone without adequate retaliatory action, contrasting that period with what he described as India's current zero-tolerance counter-terrorism posture.
Why did PM Modi mention the 9/11 attacks in Mann Ki Baat?
Modi noted that 2026 marks 25 years since the 11 September 2001 terror attacks in the United States. He pointed out that Indian nationals were among those killed at the World Trade Center and recalled paying tribute to them during his first visit to the US as Prime Minister in 2014.
What is Mann Ki Baat and how often does PM Modi address it?
Mann Ki Baat is a monthly radio programme in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation on a range of topics including governance, culture, national security, and citizen achievements. The 27 September 2026 broadcast was its 138th episode.
