Let’s give talks a chance in Kashmir : Rawat

New Delhi :Peace should be given a chance in Kashmir, said Army chief General Bipin Rawat in an interview with a national daily, adding that he was in favour of dialogue to break the cycle of groups recruiting more Kashmiri youth.
“Talks must happen. The issue is that a lot of locals are joining militancy. We kill them and more would join. Infiltration can be controlled, but this cycle of recruitment of local youth can go on and on. So…let’s give peace a chance and see,” Economic Times quoted the General as saying.
Further, on Dokalam and the overall situation on the Line of Actual Control with China, the Army chief said the situation had returned to “normal as earlier” after the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“Things at the LAC are normal as earlier. We are encouraged by the meetings at the highest level.”
On the status of the DGMO-level (Director General of Military Operations) hotline between the two countries, he said: “We have locallevel contact. For this one, we have an interpreter problem and are thinking of how to go ahead with it. If we call and if they don’t have an interpreter ready, then what.”
General Rawat refrained from revealing much on the inquiry into a Srinagar hotel incident involving Major Leetul Gogoi, who hit headlines when he tied a local to his jeep as a “human shield” to rescue an election commission team from stone pelters.
“The inquiry is on. I had also made the statement that strongest punishment would be given to him if he is found guilty.”