Accuses neighbouring country of trying to keep Kashmir issue alive
(From left) Chief of Army Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh paying homage to Kargil martyrs in Drass, 160km from Srinagar, on Friday. President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh led the nation in paying tributes to the war heroes, extolling their courage, bravery and dedication. DRASS: Twenty years after Pakistani regulars and the armed militants supported by it were bombed by Indian forces from the mountains in Kargil, Islamabad has been warned not to repeat its mistake by Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat.
WASEEM ANDRABI/HT■ Chief of the army staff General Bipin Rawat laying a wreath at the war memorial on the 20th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas in Drass on Friday.General Bipin Rawat couldn’t have been more direct in his advice: “You will get a “bloodier nose,” he told Pakistan, if it chose to repeat Kargil-like misadventure.
“Don’t do it. Misadventures are normally not repeated. You will get a bloodier nose next time,” he said in a press conference at Drass War Memorial when asked to articulate his message to Pakistan on the 20th anniversary of India’s victory in the Kargil war.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TALK AND ACTION
On Pakistan’s recent request about seeking US meditation on Kashmir, Rawat said, “There is a difference between talk and action.”
General Rawat accused Pakistan of making “desperate attempt” to keep the Kashmir issue alive as it stood exposed sponsoring terror on Indian soil. “The world at large knows terrorists are trained in Pakistan and they have terror camps,” he stressed while adding that Islamabad supported militants with money and weaponry to the terrorists.
He further accused Pakistan of influencing people from across the border to join hands with the local youth to up the ante of terrorism. Radicalisation and social media were being extensively used to fuel trouble in Jammu and Kashmir.
PRIORITISING EQUIPMENT
The army is prioritising its equipment,” he revealed before listing measures to modernize its inventory.
“We know the proxy war is here to stay, hence we are modernizing the inventory. The only thing a soldier needs is good weapons, ammunition, and devices that will help him locate and target the enemy,” said the army chief.
“I want to convey to our countrymen that you can be rest assured that any task given to defence services will always be accomplished no matter how difficult it is. Our soldiers will continue to man and guard our borders. So that you can sleep comfortably in your homes,” Rawat remarked.
SITUATION UNDER CONTROL AT LAC
He said that situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is under control, stressing that peace and tranquility prevail along the border area.
“When there is any scope of escalation, meetings are held so that the situation is not allowed to escalate. The situation is very much under control. Mechanisms are in place, so that escalation of situation does not happen,” Rawat said.
The Army Chief underscored that through social media campaigns, the force has been reaching out to people in order to shun weapons and come to the mainstream.
“See, anybody who picks up the gun against the Army… The gun and the man will be separated. The man will go to the grave and the gun will be with us. But this is not the end of everything. We are reaching out to the people to shun the gun and come overground,” Rawat said.
“We have opened a number of goodwill schools. Let me tell you one thing. Not one person from the school has joined terrorism and not one person has become a stone thrower. We are giving the right education that your future lies in educating yourself, finding a good job for yourself and looking after the family,” he added.