Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a stern message to its neighbouring countries, saying "no force in the world can stop our brave soldiers from protecting the country's border". "They give a fierce reply if anybody tries to judge their capabilities," said Modi.

While noting some historical facts, the Prime Minister said, "The history of the world tells us that only those nations have remained safe, only those nations have moved forward, which had the ability to fight the invaders".

Mod, however, did not take the name of any country, but the allusion was clearly at China, whose People Liberation Army (PLA) recently indulged in a deadly clash with the Indian soldiers in the Ladakh region.

"No force in the world can stop our brave soldiers from protecting the country's border," the Prime Minister said while addressing the Armed Forces on the Rajasthan border on the occasion of Diwali.

"No matter how far international cooperation has come, the equations may have changed, but we can never forget that vigilance is the way to safety, awareness is the support of happiness."

Modi made it clear that India's current strategy believes in the policy of understanding and explaining.

"Today, India's strategy is clear. Today's India believes in the policy of understanding and explaining, but if anybody tries to judge our capabilities, we equally give a fierce answer."

The Prime Minister said the world is knowing this fact very well in the current scenario that India is not going to "compromise its interests even at any cost".

"This status of India, this stature is due to your (Indian Army) power and your might. You have secured the country, that's why India today speaks vigorously on the global forums."

Modi said the whole world is troubled by the expansionist forces presently, saying "expansionism is, in a way, a mental disorder and reflects eighteenth-century thinking."

He said, "India is also becoming a strong voice against this thinking".

"Be it the highlands of the Himalayas, the expanse of the desert, the dense forest or the depth of the sea, your valour is always heavy on every challenge."

He lauded the recent decision of the Indian Armed Forces for not importing more than 100 weapons and equipment from abroad, saying "this decision of the army has also inspired the countrymen to be vocal for the local".

Modi was addressing the forces at Longewala, the Thar desert of Rajasthan. It was a pivotal theatre of war in engaging India on the western front during the 1971 India-Pakistan War.

He reached Rajasthan's Jaisalmer border to celebrate Diwali with the armed forces in the morning, in continuation of his set tradition since he took over as the Prime Minister of India in 2014.

Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, Army Chief M.M. Naravane and Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Rakesh Asthana accompanied the Prime Minister at the border.

(IANS)