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Stressing on talks to establish peace in India-held Kashmir, Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat — in an interview with Economic Times published on Tuesday — said the recruitment of local Kashmiri youth by militants cannot be controlled.
“Talks must happen. The issue is that a lot of locals are joining militancy. We kill them and more would join. Infiltration can be controlled, but this cycle of recruitment of local youth can go on and on. So…let’s give peace a chance and see,” the Indian general was quoted as saying by the ET on Tuesday.
Read: Valley of death: Being young and restless in Kashmir
In the interview, he refrained from revealing details of the inquiry on into the incident of a Kashmiri man being tied as human shield to an Indian army vehicle.
“The inquiry is on. I had also made the statement that strongest punishment would be given to him [the accused major] if he is found guilty.”
General Rawat's comments signify a softer stance than his earlier remarks where he had warned the Kashmiri youth, telling them that "freedom is not possible".
"Don’t get carried away unnecessarily. Why are you picking up weapons? We will always fight those who seek azadi, those who want to secede. [Freedom] is not going to happen, never," he had said.
The comments come at time when India has found itself unable to control the uprising in India-held Kashmir.
Last Thursday, at least one soldier was killed and another wounded after Kashmiris, who are opposed to the Indian occupation of the region, attacked an Indian patrol. Six Kashmiris were later killed during a search operation in Keran area.
Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown since 1989.
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Comments (19) Closed
A very frank assessment and a very sensible advise by Gen. Bipin Rawat.
How graceful and charming he looks
Message is rightly delievered
To give another angle which has been skipped is that the recruiter has it's own financial limitation and doesn't have limitless money to keep financing the recruitment.Yes it's not sustainable and it is visible that due debt and many other reasons recruiter is going to be exhausted in next 4 to 5 more years.Mark my words!
It's struggle for freedom and not just ordinary uprising...
Sir jee, salute from Pakistan
some sense talk from this man finally.
This is guy can not be even remotely compared to Gen. Bajwa.
History is a witness that in the long run people 's revolt wins. It is the struggle of indigenous Kashmiris that is making difference. Glad to know India 's top general is seeing the reality. Let Kashmiris exercise the right of the plebiscite, then maybe Pakistan & India can have peace.
The barbarians killing the innocent people.
much better message than his previous one. hopefully something good comes out of this.
Kashmir belongs to Kashmiri people. We want to see an independent Kashmir with its own currency, defense and economy.
@Manjeet kocchar. You need glasses.
Theres a Kashmir next to Pakistan as well which is quite peaceful. India needs to learn from this if possible. Obvious response to this would be that we send militants but their army chief himself admitted on how militants are created
No solution but the right of Kashmiris on both side of the border to choose. It is their struggle only they have the right to decide. I believe Indian general is seeing the ground realities.
Love from India and hope peace prevails :)
Hats off to General Bipin Rawat. I would like to say to say something on what the general has said. We have been pruning the leaves and never touching the root. Nobody has ever tried to find out the c=root cause of the problem. To solve any problem, the following questiones are to be answered. 1. What. 2. Why. 3. When. 4 Where. 5. How. When we speak about Kashmir Militancy, have we ever tried to find out answers to above questions ? Is killing militants an answer to the problem ? Since the onset how many militants have been killed ? The general has already given answer that the militant organisations recruit the militants and the army kils them but the vicious circle does not stop. What is the permanent solution for the problem ? Yes General Bipin Rawat has the solution and he should come out with the solution. Every problem has a solution but the politicians never wish to solve them because the problem is solved, they will have no easy agenda to fool the public.
Surprised at INDIAN ARMY CHIEF/s assessment.
How we achieve peace better Indian govt think after the remarks of that person who told Kashmiri cannot achieved freedom by gun. I also recommend better 800000 soldiers should be call back from valley and give solution which acceptable for all parties.