India will choose time, place to avenge Pulwama terror attack, says former Army Chief

Addressing mediapersons on the Pulwama terror attack, the former Army Chief said after the attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi government has taken all possible diplomatic moves to completely isolate Pakistan from the international community.

Former Army Chief General VK Singh - PTI

New Delhi: Union Minister of State for External Affairs General V K Singh on Monday said Pakistan had been “isolated” internationally after the Pulwama terror attack. Addressing  mediapersons on the Pulwama terror attack, the former Army Chief said after the attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi  government has taken all possible diplomatic moves to completely  isolate Pakistan from the international community. “More than 40 countries have issued strong statements against Pakistan. This is a big success for us as the number of countries supporting India’s stand is higher than the number of countries which had supported India after 26/11 attack in Mumbai,” he said. Answering a question on what would be the Army’s response to avenge the death of the CRPF soldiers, Singh said India will choose time and place for retaliation to the terror attack as it will be properly planned. “What is being planned, I do not know. Any war, war-like or punitive action must be planned for success. It should be a cold act and nothing is to be done in a hurry. Let us wait and watch and support our forces,” he said. Even Osama (Bin Laden) was not killed in a day, despite the USA knowing the Al-Qaeda terrorist was hidden in Pakistan, he said. When asked to comment on the angle of intelligence failure and connivance of some insiders behind the Pulwama attack, the minister said the entire matter was being analysed and then a comment could be made. He claimed to be unaware of what was being planned by the forces but said "any war, war-like or punitive action" must be planned for success. It should be a cold act and nothing is to be done in a hurry, Singh said. "Even Osama (Bin Laden) was not killed in a day despite the fact that USA had known he was hidden in Pakistan. Let us wait and watch and support our forces." When asked to comment on the angle of intelligence failure and connivance of some insiders behind the Pulwama attack, the minister said the entire matter was being analysed and then a comment could be made. He said it should also be analysed why terror activities increased in south Kashmir after 2012 after a lull of several years. Singh said the abolition of Article 370 needed support from all political parties.