External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said that no Pakistani soldier or civilian died during the airstrikes in Balakot.

Swaraj, who was in the city to address a meet of women party workers, urged them to highlight the national security and development work done by the BJP government.

"During the 26/11 attack apart from Indians, foreign nationals of 14 countries had died in the terrorist attack orchestrated by Pakistan. It was the perfect time to give a fitting reply to Pakistan and gather world opinion and action against our neighbours and isolate them but the then government didn't do it. We not only gave a fitting reply to the Uri and Pulwama attack but also got an endorsement from the world to boycott Pakistan. We also got the OIC to back us and not Pakistan," said Swaraj.

She said the Indian military was given a "free hand" in the operation but was clearly instructed that no Pakistani citizen or soldiers should be killed.

She urged the women members to give point by point information about the work done by the government. "It is upto to you to convert the person you meet into a karyakarta and voter for BJP," she said.

While highlighting the importance India had gained in the world, she said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi today decides the agenda of the world.

She also touched upon her own entry into politics and how early in her life she decided that nothing was impossible for a woman. "I belong to Haryana where sons are favoured over daughters. It is common to see mothers putting ghee in the dal of their sons and not daughters as they often question a daughter's ability to do certain work," said Swaraj. She, however, said that she had benefited from being the daughter of a man who was very liberal and did not differentiate between daughters and sons.

She also lauded the party workers for not only working for the BJP but also juggling their other commitments including family and work.

She also reminded the workers that when they vote for an MP they are not just voting for one person but for Narendra Modi too.

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Sushma Swaraj said that the Indian military was given a “free hand” in the operation but was clearly instructed that no Pakistani citizen or soldiers should be killed