Pakistan will have to develop as a secular state in order to stay together with India, said the Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, on Friday.
“Pakistan will have to introspect on its internal condition… It has transformed itself into an Islamic state. If they have to stay together with India, then they will have to develop as a secular state. How can we stay together when they say they are an Islamic state and there is no role for anybody else? If they are willing to become secular, then there seems to be an opportunity,” General Rawat said on the sidelines of the passing-out parade of the 135th batch at the National Defence Academy. Gen. Rawat said it remained to be seen whether Pakistan made moves in that direction or not.
Rare comment
The Army chief’s rare comment on the religious character of Pakistan comes against the backdrop of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s overtures to resume dialogue with India.
The Army chief was referring to Mr. Khan’s statements at a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday wherein the Pakistani Prime Minister expressed readiness to hold talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Mr. Khan said that it was not in the interest of his country to allow its territories to be utilised for terror activities.
“There has to be a positive step from their [Pakistan’s] side. We will then see whether that step has any impact on the ground level. Till then, our country has a clear policy that terror and talk do not go together,” said the Army chief.
