No change after Imran Khan took over in Pakistan, says Army Chief Bipin Rawat

Army Chief Bipin Rawat said though new leadership in Islamabad “talks of peace”, he hasn’t seen any change on the ground. “On the ground, we don’t see anything. They have a future plan. Practically we have to see anything on ground,” he told media here.

On terrorist infiltrating from Pakistan, he said, “Ceasefire is not applicable to the movement of the terrorist group.” and anyone who is a terrorist and is coming near LoC will “be engaged”.

He said the Army managed the situation both at the western and northern border and there is “no cause for concern.”

On Afghanistan, he said  India cannot be left out of the “bandwagon” when a number of major countries are reaching out to Taliban, noting the engagement was necessary to pursue New Delhi’s interests in the war-torn country.

He said India should not be out of the “high table” where key players are engaging with the Taliban to explore ways to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan. “A number of countries are talking to the Taliban. The issue we should address is -- do we have an interest in Afghanistan. If the answer is yes, then you cannot be out of the bandwagon,” he said.

ON KASHMIR ISSUE

A day after supporting talks with Taliban, Rawat said the same approach cannot be applied to J&K, asserting talks and terror cannot go together and that any engagement with terror groups in the state will be strictly on the basis of conditions set by the government.