NEW DELHI, SEP 22 :
Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Saturday said that “it is time” that the barbarism being propagated by the Pakistan army and the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir is given a befitting reply, reported news agency ANI.
“We need to take stern action to avenge the barbarism that terrorists and 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,” General Rawat said while addressing the media.
On questions of talks with Pakistan, the Army chief reiterated the government’s stand that talks and terrorism cannot go together.
“I think our government’s policy has been quite clear and concise. We’ve made no bones about the fact that talks and terrorism can’t go hand in hand. Pakistan needs to curb the menace of terrorism,” General Rawat added.
The media briefing came shortly after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in a tweet said that he was disappointed at India’s ” arrogant and negative ” response to his offer of talks.
India had rescinded Pakistan PM’s offer of a dialogue citing the brutal murder of security personnel in J&K by the terrorists.
Distancing himself from the controversy surrounding the Rafale defence deal, the Army chief said that the modern weapons are a primary requirement of every defence force.
“We continuously need modern weapons. There is a limit till which we can use a particular weapon, and as new technologies come, we also want them to be included in our forces. So buying of weapons continue,” the Army chief said.
“But I don’t agree that it reduces our spirit. It’s not that we don’t have some other option. I don’t want to talk specifically about Rafale, but modern weapons are the need of every force. The delay in the composition is not good for the force,” he added.
The Army chief also dismissed allegations that the armed forces are not being given a free hand to tackle the terrorists.
“I don’t want to comment on political issues. But I’ll like to say that we’re getting full cooperation. We’re given freedom on how to carry out our operations. And you can see its effect in Kashmir & northeast,” he said.
