A two-front war is not a “smart idea,” Lt Gen Surinder Singh, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, said on 28 February as he pointed out that it is imperative for India to improve relations with China in order to gain leverage over Pakistan.
Speaking at a seminar on ‘Geo-strategic manifestations in Pakistan and Implications for India” at Panjab University’, Lt Gen Singh said it was necessary to secure at least one side of the border, reported Indian Express.
Army chief Bipin Rawat had said in June 2017 that the Indian Army was ready for a “two-and-a-half-front war”.
“In Pakistan, military’s writ runs... There has to be a greater role to military diplomacy so that the militaries of the two nations can work with each other and bring about greater confidence in each other and we can go forward,” the daily quoted him as saying.
He also emphasised that Pakistan’s nuclear deterrence had reduced the window for conventional conflict. “It is for that nation to lay down the red lines as to what is the limit of the punishment they will take,” he said.
Referring to ties with China, he said: “There is not that sort of enmity, from people to people or from entire polity on one side and the polity on the other side. There are differences on demarcation of borders. I think this can be worked out. If we can improve our relations with China, we can develop the best possible leverage with Pakistan in times to come”.
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