New Delhi, December 31: The 28th Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Tuesday slammed Pakistan for trying to use terrorism as tool of state policy and said that this method of proxy war can't last long. General Naravane was of the opinion that if Pakistan does not stop state-sponsored terrorism, India reserves the right to pre-emptively strike at sources of terror threat.

Speaking to news agency ANI, General Naravane said, "Our neighbour is trying to use terrorism as tool of state policy, as a way of carrying out proxy war against us. While maintaining deniability. However, this state can't last long, as they say you can't fool all the people, all the time." General Manoj Mukund Naravane Takes Charge as 28th Chief of Army Staff, Succeeds General Bipin Rawat.

Adding more, the Army chief said that Indian Army is aware of ceasefire violations and about the terrorists on the other side in various launchpads waiting to cross over. However, Indian forces are fully prepared to meet this threat. He said, "There are ceasefire violations, we are aware that there are terrorists on the other side in various launchpads waiting to cross over but we are fully prepared to meet this threat."

Expressing his opinion on Jammu and Kashmir, General Naravane said, "Post the abrogation of Article 370 there has been definite improvement in the situation on the ground. Incidents of violence have seen a marked decline, this augurs very well for population of J&K. It's a step forward towards bringing peace & prosperity to the region."

It is to be known that General Manoj Mukund Naravane took charge as 28th Chief of Army Staff, succeeding General Bipin Rawat who retired on Tuesday. Prior to this, General Naravane was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment in June 1980.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 31, 2019 06:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).