10 years of Surgical Strike: PM Modi recalls 2016 Army Operation against terrorist hideouts in Pakistan
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, September 27, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday recalled the 2016 surgical strikes against terrorist hideouts in Pakistan, describing the operation as a major milestone in India’s counter-terrorism policy.
Addressing the 138th episode of his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Modi said the surgical strikes would complete 10 years on September 28-29. He said the Indian Army had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and carried out the operation against terrorist hideouts in Pakistan on September 28-29, 2016.
Modi said the operation had drawn international attention and presented what he described as a new example of India’s counter-terrorism policy. He also referred to the surgical strike as a decisive response to the attacks India had faced over the years.
The Prime Minister said India had subsequently continued to convey its position on responding to terrorism, referring to the Balakot air strike and Operation Sindoor in his address.
Modi also recalled the September 2008 serial blasts in Delhi and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks while speaking about the impact of terrorism on India.
The surgical strikes were carried out days after the September 18, 2016, attack on an Army camp in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 19 soldiers were killed. The 2016 operation has since remained a significant part of India’s public discourse on counter-terrorism and military response.