New Delhi, Jan 03, TEN Network | Newly-appointed Army Chief MM Naravane has said that his force was ready to carry out operations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir if asked by the government.
In an interview to a news channel, General Naravane said that Army has chalked out various plans to carry out operations in PoK, adding that the force was prepared to undertake ‘any task’.
The Army Chief said personnel were deployed all along the International Border and the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the plans could be implemented if asked for.
“We will carry out and carry out successfully any task that we are tasked to do,” Gen Naravane told NDTV.
The Army Chief did not shy away from saying a large-scale operation in PoK was a possibility.
“Should that be the mandate,” was Gen Naravane’s answer in response to a question on the same.
Earlier, after taking over as the Chief of Army Staff on Tuesday from General Bipin Rawat, who has become India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Naravane had said that Indian had the right to “pre-emptively strike” across the LoC at sources of terrorism.
The Army Chief said India had “emphatically” displayed the “new normal” in its response mechanism to acts of terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
“If Pakistan does not stop its policy of state-sponsored terrorism, we reserve the right to pre-emptively strike at the sources of terror threat and this intent has adequately been demonstrated in our response during surgical strikes and Balakot operation,” Gen Naravane said, issuing a stern warning to Islamabad.
Pakistan has reacted to the new Indian Army Chief’s remarks, calling them as “irresponsible”.
The Pakistan Foreign Office said, “We reject the new Indian Army Chief’s irresponsible statement regarding ‘pre-emptive strikes’ across the LoC” inside PoK. “There should be no doubt about Pakistan’s resolve and readiness to thwart against any aggressive Indian move” inside its territory or PoK, it added. (TN)
