NEW DELHI – Frustrated over the continuous killing of Army men at hands ofmilitants in Occupied Kashmir, Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat saidto youth of Jammu and Kashmir, who are taking up arms or resorting to stonepelting, that they cannot fight the Indian Army and that “Azadi” couldnever be achieved by them.
In an interview to The Indian Express, the Army chief cautioned Kashmiriyouth from getting carried away. “We will always fight those who seekAzadi, those who want to secede. It’s not going to happen, never,” the Armychief was quoted as saying.
The Army chief further said that the cycle of killing would continue inKashmir as fresh recruitments are being done by militants groups. Callingsuch attempts futile, General Rawat said it did not matter as to how manyterrorists were killed.
He said that the Army or Indian administration does not like any sort ofkilling, but would fight with full force if compelled to do so.
Our troops have been trying their level best to avoid any civilian casualtydespite huge provocation…I know that the youth are angry. But attackingsecurity forces, throwing stones at us isn’t the way”. he told The IndianExpress.
He also questioned protests by locals during any operation by forcesagainst militants. General Rawat said that if people do not want themilitants to be killed, they should urge them to give up arms andsurrender, adding that people were in fact inciting forces by resorting toactions like stone pelting.