Army chief Bipin Rawat says to stay with India, Pakistan must become a secular state 

General Bipin Rawat.

While Pakistan has made renewed efforts to resume dialogue with India, Army chief General Bipin Rawat said that in order to stay together with India, Pakistan has to become a secular state.

Responding to a question on the sidelines of the passing-out parade of the 135th Course at the National Defence Academy in Pune, on Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement, Gen Rawat said India has a clear policy that “terror and talks can’t go together.”

Gen Rawat said, “For this idea of countries coming together, Pakistan will have to first look at their own internal situation. Pakistan has made itself into an Islamic state. If they have to stay together with India, they will have to become a secular state. We are a secular state. How can we stay together when they say they are an Islamic state and there is no role for anyone else? If they are ready to become a secular like us, I think there can be an opportunity.”

While laying the foundation stone for the Katarpur corridor, Khan focused on moving the relationship forward and on how much both nations could benefit if their relationship is fixed.

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