'Talks and terrorism can't go hand in hand,' says Army Chief General Bipin Rawat over India calling off UNGA meet with Pakistan

A day after slamming Pakistan perpetrating barbarity along the border, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat warned Pakistan and said that talks and terrorism can’t go hand in hand. Rawat issued the statement over India calling off talks with Pakistan on the sidelines of UNGA.

“Talks aren't being held, because our government's policy is that talks and terrorism can't take place together. We've given a clear message to Pakistan. Government's policy is clear that Pakistan has to prove with their actions that they aren't promoting terrorism,” said the Army Chief.

READ | Pakistan Responds To UNGA Meet Being Called Off, Says ‘India Playing Politics’

Further slamming Pakistan, Army Chief Rawat even after repeating time and again that they won’t provide safe haven to terrorists, Pakistani soil is being used by the terrorists.

“They (Pakistan) keep saying that they won't let their soil be used for terrorist activities against other nation. But we can see that terrorist activities are taking place & terrorists are coming from across the border,” said Army Chief Bipin Rawat.

"When Imran Khan came to power in Pakistan, he tried to send some messages of peace. But whether the entire establishment in Pakistan wants this peace is what we have to understand. Only the government can decide if talks should be held in such an environment & I think govt has taken the right decision that terrorism & peace talks can not be held together,” added Army Chief General Bipin Rawat.

READ | Pakistan PM Imran Khan Hits Out At India For Calling Off Meet At UNGA

The Army Chief’s statement comes amid the flak India receiving from Pakistan for cancelling the meeting on the sidelines of UNGA.

On Saturday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan called India’s decision to call off meeting as ‘arrogant & negative’.

"Disappointed at the arrogant & negative response by India to my call for resumption of the peace dialogue. However, all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture," he wrote on Twitter.

WATCH | Army Chief Warns Pakistan Over Barbaric Acts, Says 'time Has Come For India To Reply In Same Manner'

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was also recently quoted by Pakistani media calling India’s move political.

“It seems India is doing politics. Issues are complicated with India and there’s a need to resolve them. India’s priorities are different, not peace,” said Qureshi.

Pakistan Government's Information Minister has also hit out at India and said “India is divided on the issue of negotiations”.

Following a national outrage over the government's decision to meet with Pakistan on the sidelines of UNGA, top sources in the government have indicated that the Centre has called off the talks. The deep rooted government sources have told Republic TV that EAM Sushma Swaraj won't be shaking hands with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi as a consequence of barbarity perpetrated by Pakistan along the border.

Later, the MEA confirmed Republic TV’s news-break and said:

"The latest brutal killing of our soldiers confirmed that Pakistan will not change. Any conversations with Pakistan in this environment is meaningless." The MEA also confirmed that the killing of Indian soldiers led to cancellation of this meeting, adding, "real face of Imran Khan is out in the beginning of his tenure".