Pakistan army chief urges lawmakers to improve relations with India

In a major gesture, Pakistan army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa reportedly said the military was ready to back the political leadership’s initiative for normalisation of relations with India.

Bajwa's address assumes significance in the face of sustained US pressure and emphasis to the Pakistani leadership on mending ties with India.

"The military is ready to back political leadership's initiative for normalization of relations with India," Gen Bajwa told lawmakers at the senate committee of the whole House during his first appearance before a parliamentary forum on Tuesday.


According to Pakistani daily Dawn,

Gen Bajwa, according to a couple of senators, said it was imperative to normalise relations with all neighbours and urged Pakistan's political leaders to try to improve relations with India. He assured that any political efforts in that regard would be fully supported by the army.

The general’s offer is important because it has been alleged in many circles that Pakistan's efforts to ensure peace has been blocked by the army.

But Gen Bajwa said a large part of Indian military deployments was mostly against Pakistan. He also accused India of fomenting instability and terrorism in Pakistan, stating that New Delhi had developed a strong nexus with Afghan intelligence agency National Directorate of Security.