NEW DELHI: Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat on Thursday pitched for a hardline approach to deal with terrorism in the region, saying the model adopted by the US to take on terror networks after the 9/11 strike needs to be replicated.
In a clear reference to Pakistan, he also sought diplomatic isolation and blacklisting by anti-terror watchdog FATF of countries sponsoring terrorism, asserting that there is a need to take the bull by its horns and strike at the root cause of terror.
“We have to bring an end to terrorism and that can only happen the way the Americans started after the 9/11. Let’s go on a spree on global war on terror and let the nations join and fight terrorism together,” Gen Rawat said. “In trying to do that, you have to isolate the terrorists. Anybody sponsoring terrorism has to be taken to task,” he said.
After the September 11, 2001 terror attack, the US had declared a global war on terror which included legislative measures as well as military interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Tunisia, Somalia, Mali and Nigeria. “You cannot have partners who are partnering with you in the global war on terrorism and yet sponsoring proxies and terror. You have to have an international messaging that has to go to them. Hard action should be taken,” Gen Rawat said.
He said action like blacklisting countries by global anti-terror watchdog FATF could be a good option. “You have to bring about acceptability in the nations that there are sponsors of terrorism. Denial of terrorism cannot be allowed to continue,” Gen Rawat said. “Any country that is sponsoring terrorism has to be taken to task. I feel blacklisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is one good measure. Diplomatic isolation, you have to do this,” he said.
He also stressed on the need to strike at the root of terrorism. “As long as there are states which sponsor terrorism, we will have to live with the menace. We need to take the bull by its horns and strike at the root cause,” he said.
He also compared cyber warfare by terrorists to “soup” in a banquet, “starters” with missiles and drone attacks and “main course” with combat in air and sea. “The banquet can well be attacked by a swarm of bees in the form of terrorists,” he said, adding the future of terrorism is going to be as dirty as conventional combat. “The war on terror is not ending. The war on terror is something which is going to continue. We will have to live with it until we understand and get to the roots of terrorism,” he added.
The former Army chief said terrorism is going to stay as long as certain states are going continue sponsoring it and use terrorists as their proxies besides providing weapons and funds to terror groups.
Asked whether he supports ongoing peace negotiations with the Taliban, he said talks should be initiated with everybody provided they give up the “weapon of terrorism”. “You have to come to a peace deal with everybody. You have to go for a negotiated deal but in that the Taliban or whoever it may be must give up the weapon of terror,” he said. Asked whether Pakistan will continue its support to Taliban, Gen Rawat replied: “the answer is yes.” “You have to change the ideology behind Taliban for lasting peace (in Afghanistan). It cannot be a temporary measure,” he added.
Asked about his new post, he said the CDS is the first among equals but he has got clear and well defined responsibilities. “While he is the first among equals, he has some authority over the three service chiefs except on operational issues,” he said. PTI
