Observing that Pakistan has always treated Afghanistan as its backyard and have been concerned, General Bipin Rawat said talks with Taliban are welcome in the interest of stability in Afghanistan as long as there are no preconditions.

“Yes, there should be talks with Taliban as long as they do not come out with any preconditions and so long as they are looking at lasting peace in Afghanistan and bring stability in that country. It is in our interest, in the regions interest and in Pakistan’s interest,” Gen Rawat said during a discussion on countering terrorism at the ongoing Raisina Dialogue jointly organised by the Observer Research Foundation and Ministry of External Affairs.

Stressing that when talking to terrorists or any organisation of that kind, it has to be without preconditions, Gen Rawat stated: “When you start attaching preconditions, it gives a sense of a notional victory that one or the other side is taking from a position of strength.”

He observed that as Pakistan considers Afghanistan as its backyard, they always want a situation there (Afghanistan) which is more favourable to them.

To questions on radicalisation existing globally and the trend in India, Gen Rawat said it has taken a different form in India as seen in Jammu and Kashmir. “We see a different form of radicalisation in Jammu and Kashmir. Youth are being radicalised due to lot of misinformation,” he said.

Gen Rawat also added that terror group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) has not been able to find its feet in the manner “it has in some other countries, despite large number of Muslims is because I think we have rich family values.”

“Radicalisation is happening through the media,” he stated and added that so long as media keeps giving coverage and focus to terrorist activities it is there to stay.