What appointment of Gen Bajwa as Pak army chief means to India

Officials in India say that it is too early to comment on what General Bajwa's position on India would be.

New Delhi, Nov 28: The appointment of General Qamar Javed Bajwa as the Pakistan army chief is being watched closely by India.

Officials in India say that it is too early to comment on what General Bajwa's position on India would be.

He is a professional officer and will continue to focus on home grown terror in Pakistan.

However, officials in India do not expect much change in Pakistan's stand towards India.

In Pakistan the media has reported that he got the top post because of his pro-democracy views.

This is one of the reasons why he was handpicked by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the post.

Not much change:

A high ranking officer in New Delhi tells OneIndia that General Bajwa may not change Pakistan's policy towards India.

However we feel that there would be less hostility in the days to come. He may not be as hostile as what General Raheel Sharif was, the officer also adds.

General Bajwa is an expert with Pakistan occupied Kashmir affairs. He also hails from the Baloch regiment.

Going by this, it is expected that he will focus largely on both PoK and Balochistan, the two key issues the Indian government has been raising for sometime now.

With regard to the hostility towards India, officials here say that there is unlikely to be a sudden shift. It would happen over a period of time, but the change would be gradual.

India also feels that General Bajwa's relationship with Nawaz Sharif is also crucial. It was well known fact that General Raheel Sharif and the Pakistan Prime Minister were not the best of friends.

That hostility within Pakistan which was present would not be there this time and this is good news for India.

When the General and the PM are on the same page, it is easier to talk peace and reduce tensions.

While Nawaz Sharif may have wanted peace with India, it was General Sharif who was opposed to it.

Former Indian army chief, General Bikram Singh under whom General Bajwa ha served during a UN posting in Congo says that he was professional.

He however adds that there is a difference between a UN posting and serving at your own country. He says that the wait and watch policy is best for now.

OneIndia News