Premature to assess impact of Trump's pressure on Pakistan: Army Chief

It is "premature" to assess the impact of US President Donald Trump's policy of putting pressure on Pakistan will have and India will have to continue its job of fighting terror originating from the neigbouring country, Army Chief Bipin Rawat said on Friday.

Asked about the "pressure" being exerted on Pakistan by US, he said: "It would be premature to say what will be the impact of the pressure.

"US has exerted pressure on Pakistan, but there are compulsions on US also to maintain relation with Pakistan," Gen Rawat said adding that both Pakistan and the US understand this.

"But to say complete pressure has been put on Pakistan... let us see it is a step by step process. It is too premature to say that everything is now going to be in our favour and US will do our job," he said.

Trump, in a tweet on January 1, attacked Pakistan saying that the US has foolishly given them more than $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years, and got lies and deceit in return.

Asked about increase in ceasefire violations along the Line of Control, the Army Chief said India has started targeting Pakistan posts which support terrorists in infiltrating on Indian side.

"Ceasefire violations have increased because Pakistan posts supporting terrorists are being destroyed," he said.

Rawat also said that casualties of the Pakistan side were "three to four times more" than that on Indian side, stressing this was being done so that they can feel the pain and a message is conveyed. He said the government had told the army to conduct operation "in the manner they deem fit".

He however added that if there is a drop in infiltration, the Indian Army will fully follow the ceasefire.

--IANS

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