Army, Navy, IAF chiefs call on Defence Minister amid Pak belligerence

Chief of Indian Army Bipin Rawat along with Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and Air Chief RKS Bhadauria on Monday called on Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. A Defence Ministry spokesperson shared the image of the service chiefs with Rajnath Singh on Twitter.

An important meeting

The meeting comes amid the tense situation along the Line of Control (LoC). There have been several ceasefire violations by Pakistan in order to infiltrate terrorists. On October 20, Defence Minister had spoken to General Bipin Rawat over the situation following the ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir's Tangdhar sector.

General Bipin Rawat's clear message to Pakistan

The Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, while addressing a ceremony on the launch of the honorary postal stamp for Siachen Warriors reiterated, “Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) is ours”. Talking about Article 370 as a temporary provision in the Constitution of India, the Army Chief explained that Gilgit Baltistan and PoK have always been a part of India. Sending a clear message to the “western neighbour” Pakistan, Rawat also said that PoK is being illegally controlled by them. General Bipin Rawat also asserted that PoK is under the control of terrorists.

READ | "PoK and Gilgit Baltistan is ours": Army Chief General Rawat

READ | Army Chief:Attempt being made by terrorists to disrupt normalcy in J&K

'PoK is a part of India'

The Army Chief had said, “And when we say ‘Jammu and Kasmir as a whole’, we also mean PoK and Gilgit Baltistan. Therefore, PoK and Gilgit Pakistan become an occupied territory, a territory that has been illegally occupied by our western neighbour. In Article 370’s subparagraph three, it is very clearly mentioned that it is temporary in nature. When Article 370 was introduced with the word ‘temporary’ then there was no objection from Pakistan. This article has been amended twice, where the leadership of Jammu and Kashmir was designated to the Sadr-e-Riyasat, later on, the Prime Minister and then the Chief Minister. Therefore, why is it that Pakistan has suddenly woke up and raised the ante on the abrogation of Article 370. This is because this territory that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan is not controlled by the Pakistani establishment, it is controlled by terrorists. PoK is actually a terrorist-controlled part of Pakistan.”  

WATCH | Army Chief Gen Rawat explains Pak's hue and cry on Article 370

READ | Army Chief: Nothing will prevent us from achieving ultimate mission