Union Minister and former Army chief General VK Singh (retd) made a strong statement following the tragic loss of Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonack, and DySP Humayun Bhat during a confrontation with terrorists in Anantnag. He emphasized the need to isolate Pakistan and conveyed that normal relations could not be maintained unless Pakistan itself becomes normal.
Speaking on the martyrdom of India Army officers and J&K police officer on Anantnag, Gen VK Singh said, “We have to. Because unless we isolate Pakistan, they will think it is business as normal. Bollywood wale aajayenge humare yaha, cricket wale aajayenge humare yaha, sab theek hai, sab changa hai—there is no problem. If we have to bring it (Pakistan) under pressure, we have to isolate it. They need to know that no normal relations can be maintained unless you yourselves become normal.”
Meanwhile, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah expressed a different perspective, advocating dialogue with Pakistan as a means to achieve peace. Reflecting on the sacrifice of two Indian Army Jawans and a DSP in Anantnag, Abdullah commented, “This destruction has been going on for so long. I don’t see the end of this. Even today, there is an encounter in Rajouri. Encounters keep on happening. The government kept screaming ‘militancy ended.’ Tell me whether militancy has ended? This won’t end.”
