Pakistan must turn into a secular state to better its ties with India, said Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Friday. He was delivering a lecture during the National Defence Academy (NDA) passing out parade ceremony in Pune.
“Pakistan is an Islamic State. They must willingly become a secular country like us. If they have to stay hand-in-gloves with us, they have to develop themselves as a secular state,” General Rawat said.
General Rawat’s statement comes amid Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan expressing willingness for greater engagement with India.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday acknowledged that it was not in the country’s interest to allow its soil to be used for terrorism. Khan said he is ready to talk to PM Narendra Modi at “any time”.
General Rawat said he feels that Pakistan’s claim of taking strong steps towards good bilateral relations is contradictory unless there is a direct impact visible on the ground about its claims.
The Army Chief added that a positive step from Pakistan is what is needed presently because India has a clear policy that terror and talks cannot go together.
Talking about the induction of women in the Indian Army in a front-line combat role, General Rawat said, “You will see an increase in the role of women in armed forces. We have not yet taken them in the front-line combat role. We feel we are not yet ready. Western nations are more open. Boys and girls are operating together in big cities here but people in the Army do not only come from big cities.”
Pak should turn secular for better ties with India: Army Chief Rawat
Says the neighbouring nation first needs to see its internal condition. PTI file
Pune, November 30
Venturing into uncharted waters, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Friday said Pakistan should turn into a secular state from an Islamic nation.
Pakistan’s turning into a secular state is essential if the neighbouring country has to stay together with India, the Army chief said.
“If they (Pakistan) have to stay together with India, then they have to develop as a secular state,” Gen Rawat told reporters on the sidelines of the Passing Out Parade of the 135th course at the National Defence Academy here.
“See this staying together, staying separate, ispe Pakistan ko apni andruni halat dekhni hogi. Pakistan ne apne state ko Islamic state bana diya hai. Hum log secular state hai (Pakistan has to look at its internal situation. They are an Islamic state, we (India) are a secular state),” he said.
Gen Rawat said, “How can we stay together if you say I am an Islamic state and there is no role for anybody else,” he said. “If they are willing to become secular like us, then they seem to have an opportunity. Pehle dekhe karte hai ki nahi karte (Let us see if they do so or not).” The Army Chief also asked Pakistan to curtail terror activities.
Asked about Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement that Islamabad would move two steps forward if New Delhi took one step, Gen Rawat said the neighbouring nation should first take steps to curtail terror activities on its soil.
“I would like to tell Pakistan to initiate that first step (curtailing terror). In the past, India has taken several steps. When we say terror is being harboured in your country, show some action by curtailing terror activities which are used against India,” Rawat said.
On Khan’s statement as to why India and Pakistan could not be friends when Germany and France could be good neighbours, he said the neighbouring nation first needs to see its internal condition. PTI