Pakistan's 'unabated alliance' to Jihadi groups has serious ramifications to India's security: Army Chief General Rawat

Pune (Maharashtra) [India], August 27 (ANI): Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has said that Pakistan's "unabated alliance" to the Jihadi groups has serious ramifications to India's security.

In an event organised by the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies of Savitribai Phule Pune University, the Army Chief said, "Pakistan unabated allianc to the Jihadi groups has serious ramifications to our security. This can lead to the possibility of Pakistan being a conduit for the eastward spread of fundamentalistic and Islamic ideologies."

Army Chief Bipin Rawat also said that the neighbourhood continues to have "proxy wars" in Jammu and Kashmir, adding, "This design entails employing non-state actors attempts are being made to expand infiltration attacks attempts across borders in other states as well along India's western frontier."

General Rawat also said that the increasing presence of transnational actors in Pakistan in fundamental ideologies is a matter of great concern.

"This lends to complex dimensions to the threat not only to us but also for other countries of South and East Asia including China," he said.

He also added that the ceasefire violations on the Line of Control (LoC) attempt to aid infiltration by the Pakistan Army post and the Trans-LoC actions are being and will be "continued to be responded to, proactively" by the Indian Army.

"We shall take all necessary actions to negate, mitigate and destroy elements involved in planning taking actions against India's security interest" General Bipin Rawat said.

He also said that India has threat from the Northern and the Western front and therefore the Indian Army has to maintain strong defence forces.

Talking about Afghanistan being an important strategic area, General Bipin Rawat said, "Afghanistan is and shall remain an area of strategic importance to all of us and remain committed to the capacity building and capability development of the Afghan defence forces."

He also stated that India's neighbourhood has a growing recognition of the need to take a unified view against cross-border terrorism.

"This is the cost of a positive development. Pakistan, however, is not one of the countries that share this perspective. China continues to enhance influence in the region," Army Chief Bipin Rawat said.

Discussing China's situation with India, General Rawat said that India's North China's increased assertiveness in the political economic and military domain is being witnessed in many regions of the world.

"Territorial disputes, including in the maritime domain, have sharpened differences between various states. These could lead to militaristic approaches and challenges to norms of international law and standards of international behaviour," he said.

General Rawat also said that India needs to possess an "effective capability" to prevent destabilisation of its immediate neighbourhood and also address security concerns of the extended neighbourhood whenever required.

"As a responsible nuclear state, we follow a policy of minimal credible retrench. Security perspective of our nation does not remain constant. India is not a member of any military alliance or strategic grouping. Therefore it needs to maintain required military capability to ensure its national interest," General Bipin Rawat said, adding that the national security aim translates into a national security objection. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI