Threat on LAC has abated, but not gone away fully: Army chief

Pakistan will have to stop supporting cross-border terrorism to address India’s core concerns, said army chief General MM Naravane, while welcoming the decision of both countries to give peace another chance by agreeing to observe a fresh border ceasefire from February 25.

Speaking at the Times Network India Economic Conclave, he said there were “strong grounds to believe” that India will be able to achieve its aim of restoring status quo in eastern Ladakh through further diplomatic and military talks with China.

Gen Naravane, however, warned that the “threat has only abated” with last month’s successful troop disengagement with China on both sides of Pangong Tso, but “not gone away altogether” since the People’s Liberation Army was still maintaining its troop strength in “rear areas” as before. “De-escalation will take place only when these elements go back to their garrisons,” he said.

On Pakistan, he said India’s core issue is that “Pakistan has to stop support to terrorism”. “Unless that happens, it can’t be business as usual. We’ll have to wait and watch.”