'Talks and Terror Can't Go Hand-in-Hand': Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat on India Calling Off Meet With Pakistan
The Army chief's remarks comes shortly after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed anguish over the manner in which India turned down his proposal of dialogue.
New Delhi, Sept 22: Army chief General Bipin Rawat supported the Centre's decision to call off the meet proposed by Pakistan between the two countries' foreign ministers at the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly. Gen Rawat, while lauding the decision, said "talks and terror can't go hand-in-hand".
The meeting, expected on September 26-27, was cancelled by India on Friday -- a day after accepting the proposal for talks by Pakistan. The Ministry of External Affairs has cited the latest killing of a BSF jawan by Pakistani troopers, along with the release of stamp duties by Islamabad featuring anti-India "terrorists" as the reason for not resuming the dialogue with the neighbouring nation. Imran Khan Targets PM Narendra Modi as India Calls Off Meeting With Pakistan, Says 'Small Men Occupying Big Offices'.
Gen Rawat said India must unequivocally avenge the barbarism afflicted by Pakistani troopers, and the terrorism used as a state policy by Islamabad. "We need to take stern action to avenge the barbarism that terrorists & the Pakistan Army have been carrying out. Yes,it's time to give it back to them in the same coin, not resorting to similar kind of barbarism. But I think the other side must also feel the same pain," he said.
The Army chief's remarks comes shortly after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed anguish over the manner in which India turned down his proposal of dialogue.
Talks between India and Pakistan stands suspended since September 2016, when cross-border terrorists attacked an Army camp in Uri killing 18 soldiers.
Following the election of a new government in Pakistan, Islamabad made a fresh pitch for talks to the Modi government. Experts, however, claim that the dialogue could resume only after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, as the ruling BJP is unlikely to dent its "nationalist" image by resuming the bilateral process with Pakistan.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 22, 2018 06:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).