India reserves right to preemptively strike at sources of terror, says Army Chief

In a stern warning to Pakistan, new Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane on Tuesday said India reserves the right to “preemptively strike” at sources of terror, asserting that a “new normal” in the country’s response mechanism to acts of cross-border terrorism has already been “emphatically” displayed. Giving a detailed brief on India’s security challenges, including combating cross-border terrorism, Gen Naravane said a strategy of “resolute punitive response” was put in place to deal with Pakistan- “If Pakistan does not stop its policy of state- “A new normal in our response mechanism has been emphatically underlined,” he added. Gen Naravane said the Pakistan Army’s “all out efforts” to deflect attention from state- Asked how he will deal with Pakistan-backed terrorism, he said, “Multiple options across the spectrum of conflict are on the table to respond to any act of terror Gen Naravane said Pakistan tried to draw global attention following India’s decision to reorganise Jammu and Kashmir, but its efforts did not get any traction. On security challenges along the 3,500-km border with China, Gen Naravane said: “We will continue to improve capability building along the northern border so we are prepared when the need arises.” “After the Wuhan summit, both nations have issued strategic guidance to their respective forces with an aim to maintain peace and tranquillity along the borders, locally resolve differences and not allow them to turn into disputes,” he said.