India has never gone to war with anyone for selfish reasons, said National Security Advisor Ajit Doval while addressing ascetics, sages and priests at Parmarth Niketan on Saturday.

Ajit Doval further urged spiritual gurus to spread the values of peace and spirituality of the Indian civilisation around the world.

Speaking further, Ajit Doval also recalled the strength of India’s spiritual history and the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda.

The national security advisor, speaking further, said, “The states are bound by physical dimensions but the nation is an emotional bond, which is bound by the common thread of spirituality and culture in which there is a collective sense of pride”.

He further said that the role of the Indian gurus and spiritual centres is to guard this larger sense of collective identity.

Responding to some of the comments made by the hosts at the Centre, Doval said, “India has never gone to war with anyone for selfish reasons.”

“The state will fight both within and outside only when the threat is imminent. We will not go to war for our selfish reasons,” he emphasised.

It may be mentioned here that India, so far, has fought four wars with Pakistan-1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999 and one with China in 1962.

“In none of the wars, was India the aggressor,” Doval reiterated.

It may be mentioned here that India fought with Pakistan in 1971 to prevent and stop the genocide of Bengalis perpetrated by the Pakistani Army.