'War is a serious business, there's nothing romantic about it': Former Army chief slams warmongers

Hitting out at those questioning the suspension of hostilities between India and Pakistan, former Indian Army chief General Manoj Naravane pointed out that war is a serious business and there is nothing romantic about it.

India and Pakistan, on Saturday, announced reaching an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea.

Speaking at an event organised by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India in Pune on Sunday, Naravane said if ordered, he would go to war, but diplomacy would be his first choice.

He observed that war is traumatic for those living in the border areas, including children who have to run to shelters at night to escape from shelling. "For those who have lost their loved ones, that trauma will be carried through generations. There is also something called PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). People who have seen gruesome scenes wake up sweating even after 20 years and need psychiatric care," he was quoted as saying.

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"War is not romantic. It is not your Bollywood movie. It is very serious business. War or violence should be the last thing we should resort to, which is why our prime minister said this is not an era of war. Although war will be forced upon us by unwise people, we should not cheer for it," he said.

Advocating diplomacy over full-blown military conflict, he said his first choice would be diplomacy, settling differences through dialogue and not reaching the stage of armed conflict. "We are all equal stakeholders in national security. We should try to resolve differences not only between countries but amongst ourselves, whether in families or between states, regions and communities. Violence is not the answer," he said.

Defence