Time to give Pak a befitting reply, says Army chief
JAIPUR: I will refrain from commenting on this (politicians using the army) issue, but the government has given full freedom to the army to carry out its operations which has yielded positive results
GENERAL BIPIN RAWAT , Army chief
Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Saturday termed the mutilation of the body of a BSF soldier as a barbaric act by terrorists, supported by the Pakistan army, and said that it was time to give Pakistan a befitting reply.
Gen Rawat was in Jaipur on Saturday to attend centenary celebrations of liberation of Haifa.
Addressing the media, he said, “It was a barbaric act by terrorists, supported by the Pakistan army. We will have to take strict action. It’s time that we replied to them in their language,” said Rawat.
On a tweet by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan ‘India not serious for talks’, the army chief said the government’s policy is clear – terrorism and talks cannot go hand-in-hand.
Refusing to comment on the Rafale deal dispute, he said, “There should not be delay in buying weapons as there is a need for modern weapons with new technique.”
Being quizzed on politicians using the army, Gen Rawat said, “I will refrain from commenting on this issue but the government has given full freedom to the army to carry out its operations which has yielded positive results.”
He asked people to have faith on the army. “Our men are deployed at the border so that you people can live in peace,” he said.
Talking about the slain soldiers in the recent incidents, he said, “We take care of our soldiers and provide as much help as possible to the family of the martyrs.” General Bipin Rawat said ‘Surgical Strike Day’ will be observed across the country and will be celebrated as a festival as it was altogether a special surgical strike and was very different.
He reviewed the Haifa Day Mounted Parade at the 61 Calvary location, which presented a spectacular parade comprising 163 horses along with riders.
Haifa Day is celebrated to mark the liberation of Haifa from the Turks by the mounted Cavalry.