Taliban dialogue, Kashmir are separate issues, says Rawat

VIEWPOINT The army chief says Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan

NEWDELHI:ARMY chief Gen. Bipin Rawat on Thursday said if a group of countries is engaging with the Taliban and India has an interest in Afghanistan, New Delhi can’t be “out of the bandwagon”, but added that the same analogy doesn’t apply to Jammu and Kashmir.

“Do we have interest in Afghanistan is the first issue. If the answer is yes, then you can’t be out of the bandwagon. If you have interest, you step in,” Rawat said at his customary press conference ahead of Army Day on January 15.

“Our thinking is yes, we have an interest. And if other countries are saying there should be talks, we should in some way also become a part, maybe directly or indirectly. But we should not be left out.” Rawat had on Wednesday endorsed the option of dialogue with the Taliban provided there are no preconditions and the talks were aimed at bringing lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan. His remarks came against the backdrop of efforts by Pakistan, the US, Russia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table. On holding talks with separatists in Jammu and Kashmir, Rawat said there can’t be a onesize-fits-all approach.

“Don’t look at one size fits all. There’s a group of nations that decided to talk to the Taliban and see if they can come to the negotiating table. There is also a feeling in Afghanistan that things have improved… So some nations have decided that let’s start talking to the Taliban to see if they can also be brought in the system of governance and there can be lasting peace,” he said.

He said the same analogy can’t be applied in Kashmir as it was a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, and there was no room for third-party intervention. “Come to the negotiating table and start talking. Shun the gun, give up violence and stop taking support from the western neighbour… We are saying talks and terror cannot go on together… You have to see your national interest and take a line,” Rawat said.