General Bipin Rawat, chief of the Indian Army, has said that talks with archrival and neighbor Pakistan could commence only if the latter stopped sponsoring cross-border terrorists.

Speaking to newsmen in Jaipur yesterday, the Army chief said that India no doubt wanted to maintain a healthy and friendly relationship with its north-western neighbor. “However, looking at Pakistan’s activities and its intention in sponsoring cross-border terrorist activities, it appears that Pakistan has no objective of kick-starring the stalled peace talks with India,” Rawat observed.

“Talks can obviously commence only when it becomes absolutely certain that Pakistan had stopped sponsoring terrorist activities on Indian soil.  I’m proud of the successful anti-terrorist operations taking place in Jammu & Kashmir undertaken jointly by the army, para-military forces and the State police. This would continue till terrorism is rooted out,” he added.

The Indian Army chief’s remarks are seen as reply to his Pakistan counterpart Qumar Javed who had recently spoken on the issue. “I’d whole-heartedly support peace talks with India if the Govt. (Pakistan) initiated such talks,” Javed had earlier said.