Don't need surgical strike to stop another 26/11, have many options: Army chief Bipin Rawat

The Indian Army now has ‘options’ to tackle a major terror attack like Mumbai 26/11, says General Rawat.

General Rawat stressed that the Army is capable and ready to take action against any provocation. (Photo: Indian Army)

HIGHLIGHTS

• General Rawat said situation where Army is unprepared to respond to attack will not arise

• Said Kashmiris will soon shun Pakistani militants from region

• Also warned of a potential attack on Army cantonments in Punjab

Ten years after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Army chief General Bipin Rawat, speaking to India Today Magazine, assesses the changing nature of Pakistan's proxy war, the possibility of the threat spreading to Punjab and how the Indian Army's response to such atrocity need not only be 'Surgical Strikes II'.

Q. On Monday, it will be the tenth anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. I believe the Army then was asked for options and it said that it was not prepared. If there is another attack like Mumbai today, what will be the Indian Army's response?

BR: We've come a long way from those days. You saw the attacks in Uri, prior to this you saw the attacks in Manipur, we respondedwhen we responded in Uri, it was messagingit could have been more. So, it was just signalling and, therefore, the Indian Army today is much more prepared to take action based on the directions given by the government.