Pakistan’s army chief says it’s time to ‘bury the past’ and move on with India

Pakistan army chief’s statement comes on the eve of the US defence secretary’s India visit

File image: In Pakistan, the army is considered the real driver of foreign and security policies of the country (Reuters)

It’s time to bury the past and move forward with India, Pakistan’s army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said, emphasising that stable Indo-Pak relations are key to unlocking the potential of south and central Asia.

“The potential has, however, forever remained hostage to the disputes and issues between the two nuclear neighbours,” said Mr Bajwa in his speech on Thursday at a conference in Islamabad.

“Kashmir dispute is obviously at the heart of this problem. It is important to understand that without the resolution of Kashmir dispute through peaceful means, process of subcontinental rapprochement will always remain susceptible,” he said.

“However, we feel, it is time to bury the past and move forward … but for resumption of peaceful process or meaningful dialogue our neighbour will have to create conducive environment particularly in Indian-Occupied Kashmir,” said General Bajwa, while noting that the US too had a role to play in ending regional conflicts.

In Pakistan, the army has replaced democratically-elected administrations several times and the position of the army chief is considered one of the most powerful. It is Pakistan’s army that is considered the real driver of their foreign and security policy.

His speech comes shortly after the statement of Pakistan’s prime minister Imran Khan who on Wednesday reiterated that they want “peace with India.”

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The tone adopted by Pakistan’s army chief and the prime minister is also significant as it comes just before the India visit of US defence secretary Lloyd J Austin, who is scheduled to reach New Delhi on Friday.

India and Pakistan have recently announced cease-fire along the border.

On 25 February, in a joint statement, the two nations had said that the directors general of military operations of India and Pakistan have agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns which have the propensity to disturb peace in the region.

“Both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from midnight 24/25 Feb 2021,” the statement said.

Pakistan and India have fought three wars since 1947. The last major rise in tensions between them was in 2019 when the two nations sent fighter planes into each other’s territory.

Michael Kugelman, who is the south Asia senior associate at The Wilson Center, noted that it was an “interesting speech” by the army chief.

“Most of the themes he covered have already been articulated by government ministers (including the PM), and not just by the current government either. But for him to reinforce them here, given who he is, that’s significant,” Mr Kugelman tweeted.

Additional reporting by agencies