RAWALPINDI: Former Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, on Tuesday, warned India of perceiving Pakistan’s “restraint” over recent tensions in disputed Kashmir as a weakness. He made this statement as he handed over power to his successor.
Gen Raheel spoke at a colourful ceremony, welcoming the incoming chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at army headquarters, Rawalpindi.
“Unfortunately, in recent months, increasing state terrorism in Indian-occupied Kashmir and India’s aggressive steps have put the region’s peace in danger,” Sharif said.
“I want to make it clear to India that considering our policy of restraint a weakness would not be wise” he said to applause.
“It’s is a reality that in South Asia, lasting peace and progress is impossible without solution of the Kashmir issue. For that, international community’s special attention is necessary,” he continued.
Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India have spiraled out following a deadly terrorist assault on an Indian army base in September which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants.
India said it had responded to the September attack by carrying out “surgical strikes” across the heavily militarised border, sparking fury from Islamabad, denying the claim.
There have been repeated incidents of cross-border shelling from both sides, claiming the lives of innocent civilians along the Line of Control (LoC).
