Sir: This is with reference to the threatening statement by the Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on September 22, whereby he has said that now it was time for the Indian army to take stern action to avenge the barbarism that terrorists and the Pakistan Army have been carrying out in held Kashmir against Indian soldiers. In the statement, he has further said that the Indian army need to do so, to make the other side feel the same pain. This is a very immature and unprofessional statement by the Indian Army Chief. Such statements must not come from the mouth of the person sitting at the highest position. He must know that he is a military officer and not a politician. Yes, politicians, for escalating the situation, do issue such statements. Even during the worst periods of Indo-Pak relationships, none of our army chiefs issued such immature and unprofessional statements. Indian Army Chief’s such statement clearly gives a signal that his force is completely frustrated, demotivated and demoralized at the current indigenous movement by the Muslims of the held Kashmir for the right of their self-determination, and the Indian army, accordingly have completely failed to control the same. This thing has further clarified that even the worst ever torture of the Indian army in the held Kashmir has not weakened the resolve of the people of the region. Instead of admitting their blunders and follies in the held Kashmir (of not admitting the right of self-determination by the people of the held-Kashmir), both Indian government and the Indian army have been blaming terrorists and Pakistani army for the uprising in the valley. I think, it is high time both the Indian government and the Indian army opened their eyes and stopped blaming Pakistan and its army for whatever is happening in the held Kashmir and with their army personnel there. Besides this, Pakistan’s desire for a peace with India must not be considered a weakness of the former by the latter. I say so because the whole world knows that Pakistan wants peace with India and not war. The world also knows that Pakistan is a nuclear state and it possesses an army, navy and air force always ready to wage a war (as defender and not as offender/aggressor) against India. Indian Army Chief should avoid giving political statements and escalating the situation. ABDUL SAMAD SAMO Karachi Published in Daily Times, September 25th 2018.