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Pakistan must become secular state to stay together with India: General Bipin Rawat

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had said asking why India and Pakistan cannot stay together like Germany and France – which ended their historic hostility after World War II.

Pakistan must become secular state to stay together with India: General Bipin Rawat

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat (Photo: IANS)

Army chief General Bipin Rawat said on Friday that Pakistan will have to shed its “Islamic state” nature and become a secular country for it to “stay together” with India.

He was responding to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s comment asking why India and Pakistan cannot stay together like Germany and France – which ended their historic hostility after World War II.

Interacting with the media on the sidelines of the Passing Out Parade of 135th course of National Defence Academy in Pune, General Rawat said that Pakistan has made its state an Islamic State.

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“If they have to stay together with India, then they’ve to develop as a secular state. We [India] are a secular state. If they’re willing to become secular like us, then they seem to have an opportunity,” he said.

Commenting on Imran Khan’s “one step, two step” statement, the Army chief said, “There is contradiction in what they’re saying. (Pakistan saying ‘you take one step, we’ll take two’.) One step from there should come in a positive manner; we’ll see if the step has effect on ground (combating terrorism). Till then our nation has a clear policy – terror and talks can’t go together.”

“Our political leaders, our army, and all other institutions are all on one page. We wish to move forward,” Imran Khan said Wednesday at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor. He added that Kashmir is only point of contention.

In its response, India accused Khan of politicising a “pious occasion” by making a reference to Jammu-Kashmir, an integral part of India.

“It is deeply regrettable that the Prime Minister of Pakistan chose to politicise the pious occasion meant to realise the long pending demand of the Sikh community to develop a Kartarpur corridor by making unwarranted reference to Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral and inalienable part of India,’’ External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in response to queries.

Read More: India hits out at Imran Khan for raising Kashmir at Kartarpur ceremony

General Rawat also said that the Army is looking into permanent commissioning of women.

“You’ll see increase in role of women in Armed forces. We haven’t yet taken them in front-line combat role. We feel we aren’t yet ready. Western nations are more open. Boys and girls are operating together in big cities here but people in Army don’t only come from big cities,” he said.

“In some fields where we need permanency and male officers in a command-oriented Army don’t fit everywhere. Keeping women officers in fields like language interpreter, military diplomacy will be beneficial,” he added.

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