‘Maybe we can open a Track-II dialogue’, says Captain Amarinder Singh

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How can this cycle of attack and counter-attack be broken?

The only way to break the cycle is that the Prime Minister must take the initiative and start talking. That is at the macro level. But the level that will matter will be at the Army level in Pakistan. Because the Army calls the shots in Pakistan. The present Chief of Army Staff in Pakistan has served under former Indian Army chief, General Bikram Singh, at the United Nations. Maybe we can open a track 2 dialogue. If we can convince each other soldier to soldier, then the governments can also be convinced. Otherwise, this escalation level will keep going up and up and soldiers will continue to get killed.

Do you think the government has erred in its policy initially, especially with the PM’s visit to Nawaz Sharif in Lahore?

Modi did the right thing by going and visiting Nawaz Sharif. But the trouble with Modi is that he is a loner and he wants to do everything by himself. He can talk to Nawaz Sharif, but the people who control everything are from the Army. Nawaz Sharif has no say in the policy they decide. If you have to help Nawaz, then there has to be back-door diplomacy at a level where they can then talk one-to-one. And you have an opportunity now that their Army chief and our former chief have been colleagues earlier.

What do you think of the effect of the present situation on the troops on ground?

You have to keep the morale of the nation and the morale of the Army up. In case there is a reaction from the other side, then there has to be double the reaction from our side. Otherwise, the soldiers start wondering what the Army brass is doing and people start wondering what the government is doing. Having said that, the only answer to this is negotiations and a negotiated settlement. I know Kashmir is a stumbling block but these are things which have to be taken into stride. We have been at it for 70 years, we cannot go on for 70 more years.

What is your reaction to the PM’s statement in Bathinda on water with regard to Pakistan?

A: Indus Water Treaty is an international treaty. How the hell will you stop it. Where does the Indus water come from? All the tributaries are in any case with us. Ravi and Beas are with us. What is he going to stop? Is he going to go and put up a dam. This is foolishness. This is only to divert attention from SYL, which is gong against their government. These are just diversionary tactics.