GST Rates: Biscuits to attract 18%; footwear 5% and Gold 3%

New Delhi, Jun 3 (PTI) The GST Council on Saturday decided to tax gold at 3 per cent, footwear below Rs 500 at 5 per cent and biscuits at 18 per cent under the Goods and Services Tax, which will be rolled out from July 1.

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, at its 15th meeting also decided on rates of yarns, agriculture machinery, apparels and rough diamonds among others.

The council, Jaitey said, will again meet on June 11, before the roll out of the new indirect tax regime.

The all powerful council has also finalised the GST rules regarding transition and return filings.

Jaitley said the council was also apprised of the IT preparedness which is necessary for the successful roll out of the GST.

"GSTN made a detailed presentation on the amount of work done and IT preparedness," he told reporters after the meeting.

Jaitley said footwear costing below Rs 500 will be taxed at 5 per cent, while that above this amount will attract 18 per cent levy. Currently, footwear priced from Rs 500-1,000 attracts 6 per cent excise duty. Besides, states levy VAT on it.

As regards readymade garments, they will attract a levy of 12 per cent. Solar panels will be taxed at 5 per cent under GST.

Tendu leaves and bidis would be taxed at the rate of 18 per cent and 28 per cent respectively, the finance minister said, adding that there will be no cess on bidis.

On the other hand, rough diamonds will attract a levy of 0.25 per cent.

For footwear and textiles, Jaitley said that a major concession has been given and the items being used by the common man will be taxed at low rates.

The GST Council has already fitted over 1,200 goods and 500 services in the tax bracket of 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent last month.

GST will subsume all major levies including excise, service tax and VAT, unifying 16 different taxes, and make India a single market.

India, France to jointly work on climate change, combating terrorism

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the President of France, Mr. Emmanuel Macron at the Joint Press Meet, in Paris on June 03, 2017.

Paris, Jun 3 (PTI) India and France today vowed to work together for the successful implementation of the landmark Paris climate agreement and fight the challenge posed by terrorism, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met newly-elected French President Emmanuel Macron here.

Modi said India was committed to "go above and beyond" the Paris deal to protect climate for future generations as he termed the UN-brokered agreement a shared legacy of the world, a day after the US president walked out of the accord.

Speaking after holding two hours of wide-ranging talks with Macron at the presidential Elysee Palace here, Modi said the Paris climate deal reflects "our duty towards protecting the mother Earth and our natural resources. For us, this (protection of environment) is an article of faith." 

"Paris climate agreement is a shared legacy of the world.

It will benefit the future generations as well," Modi said addressing a joint press event with Macron.

He said India is committed to the Paris accord, and "even beyond it, India will work and walk together with others to leave a gift for the future generations." 

"We have natural resources because our previous generations protected these resources. We must do the same for our future generations," Modi said.

Describing the city of Paris as an important part of his political journey, the prime minister said India and France had worked shoulder to shoulder for this agreement.

His remarks came after US President Donald Trump announced plans to withdraw from the Paris climate change deal on curbing carbon emissions, which had been agreed by more than 190 nations. Trump said the agreement unfairly benefited countries like India and China.

On his part, Macron said he wants to restate France's full commitment to the fight against climate warming.

The Paris agreement's central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping the global temperature rise in this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The landmark agreement, which entered into force last November, calls on countries to combat climate change and to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable low carbon future, and to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change.

The two leaders voiced concern over the growing threat of terrorism worldwide.

"Terrorism is one of the biggest challenges the world is facing today," Prime Minister Modi said, adding that he and Macron discussed extensively on how to save the world from terrorism and radicalisation.

"We cannot see the danger of climate change but we can see the horrific effects of terrorism, we can feel it.

Innocent people, women, children lose their lives to terror.

Every child in France knows the face of terror," Modi said, referring to a series of terror attacks that rocked France in recent years claiming dozens of lives.

He said terrorism is visible and it affects entire world, including France and India. "World needs to unite to defeat the menace of terrorism," Modi said.

Macron said that the issues of tackling terrorism was discussed at length during his talks with Prime Minister Modi and France fully supports India's fight against terrorism.

"We are committed to work together in defence cooperation, maritime security and fighting terrorism on the internet. France will stand by India in the fight against terrorism," he said.

The two leaders agreed to fight terrorism in all its forms and to work on concrete plans to fight terrorism on the internet before the end of the year.

Modi said India and France enjoy deep-rooted ties and the two nations have been working together for a very long time, bilaterally and multilaterally.

"Be it trade and technology, innovation and investment, energy, education and enterprise, we want to give a boost to India-France ties," the prime minister said.

He also expressed interest in improving the cultural relations between India and France.

Modi said several Indians fought in the first two world wars for world peace. Macron thanked Indian soldiers for their sacrifices for France's freedom during World Wars.

Modi also invited the French president to visit India.

Macron accepted the invitation and said he will visit New Delhi by the end of the year for an international summit on solar power - an area on which France plans closer cooperation with India.

Earlier, Macron greeted Prime Minister Modi with a bear hug in the courtyard of the presidential Elysee Palace when he arrived for the meeting and working lunch.

The Prime Minister thanked President Macron for the warm welcome and congratulated him for the election victory.

39-year-old Macron created history last month by becoming the youngest president of France.

Modi said India is in favour of a united progressive European Union.

The prime minister also spoke of the service to humanity and human values that France-India relations have rendered successfully over the years. He expressed confidence that relations will go forward even faster.

France is India's 9th largest investment partner. France is also a key partner in India's development initiatives in areas like defence, space, nuclear and renewable energy, urban development and railways.

Paris or no Paris, India committed to climate protection: Modi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at the first ever collective meeting with the Governors of 16 regions of Russia, in St. Petersburg on June 02, 2017.

St Petersburg (Russia), June 2 (PTI) India is committed to protecting the climate, irrespective of the Paris agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here today but avoided a direct reference to the US withdrawing from the international deal.

Addressing the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) here in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said India has traditionally been respecting the nature and desisted from exploiting it.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressing the plenary session of St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF2017), in St. Petersburg, Russia on June 02, 2017. The President of Russian Federation, Mr. Vladimir Putin and other dignitaries are also seen.

"Paris or no Paris, our commitment to preserving the climate is for the sake of future generations," Modi said while responding to a question about US President Donald Trump announcing withdrawal of the USA from the Climate Change deal.

He said he had made the same comment in Germany three days back when "nobody's comment had come", an apparent reference to Trump's announcement today.

"I said it in then, I say it now," he added.

Trump earlier in the day said the US was withdrawing from the Paris climate change deal, agreed by more than 190 nations. He said it unfairly benefited countries like India and China.

Asked by the moderator whether India would side with the US or others on the Paris climate change deal, Modi replied, "it is not a question of which way I go. I will go with the future generations."

He underlined, "we must leave for our future generations a climate wherein they can breathe clean air and have a healthy life."

Earlier, addressing the event, the prime minister said, "India is a responsible nation with regard to climate change...We can milk the nature... Exploitation of nature is not acceptable to us," he said.

He said India had been working to protect the environment even before the Paris deal reached in 2015.

"For the last 5000 years, even when I was not born, it has been the tradition in India to protect the environment," Modi said.

He recalled that when he was the chief minister of Gujarat before 2014, the state had created a separate department for environment protection.

PTI EXCLUSIVE: Russia's ties with India will not be diluted: Putin

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the President of Russian Federation, Mr. Vladimir Putin, at Konstantin Palace, in St. Petersburg, Russia on June 01, 2017.

St Petersburg (Russia), Jun 1 (PTI) President Vladimir Putin asserted on Thursday that Russia's "trust-based" relations with India -- which he described as one of its "closest friends" -- will not be diluted by Moscow's growing ties with Pakistan and other countries

During an interaction, Putin told PTI that there is no other country in the world that Russia has "deep cooperation" in delicate areas such as missiles, and it benefits from cooperation with India

But at the same time, Putin sidestepped a question on Kashmir, and said "it is up to you" to assess whether Pakistan is fuelling terrorism in the Indian state. "But no matter where the threat comes, it is unacceptable and we will always support India in its fight against terrorism," he added

Putin further said that just because Russia has a "special relationship" with India, it means India should be restricted in having contacts with other "partnering countries. This is ridiculous."

"We do not have any tight (military) relations with Pakistan. The US, do you have (close relations)?," he said, speaking through an interpreter. "And for sure our relations with Pakistan have no impact on trade between India and Russia."

Sitting around a rectangular table with a select group of global news agency editors, the 64-year-old Russian leader took questions one by one on subjects related not only of interest to the editors' countries but also of wider global concerns such as Syria, US President Donald Trump and the future of an emerging multi-polar world

"India is a huge country of more than 1 billion population. Russia is also a huge country. Both Russia and India have a lot of context and mutual interests. We are respectful toward all Indian interests," he said, citing the deep defence relations between the two countries

"I don't think we should push figures here in our military cooperation because it has an unprecedented level in its volume and quality. (But) there is no other country in the world that we have such deep cooperation in delicate areas such as missiles, and we benefit with cooperation with India

And this results from our trust-based relations with India," he said

He did not elaborate, but this was a clear reference to the Russia's long willingness to share high-end defence technology including missile technology with India, which most other countries restrict

On a question if Russia will use its influence to get Pakistan to stop terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, he said, "We will always support India in its fight against terrorism

I believe Pakistan is taking immense steps to stabilise the situation in the country."

He noted that India and Russia, as part of their summit, are "having a frank dialogue on all these threats. India for us is one of our closest friends. We not only understand each other but also support each other."

The interaction was held at the Konstantin Palace, a sprawling complex of grand buildings filled with 18th century paintings, porcelain, lawns, waterways and pavilions overlooking the Gulf of Finland.

Priyanka trolled for wearing dress in front of Modi

Berlin, May 31 (PTI) While Priyanka Chopra was slammed for not wearing "decent" clothes during her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Berlin, the actress today took potshots at the trolls by sharing a cheeky photograph on her Instagram page.

The 34-year-old actress's short floral dress evoked harsh comments online.

"At least wear decent clothes in front of elders and when he is the PM of India, you should not forget the Indian culture," a social media user wrote.

Another added, "May be you are a big international star but please do show some respect in front of Modi ji. Look at the way you are sitting in front of him."

In her reply to the trolls, Priyanka posted a photo recently in which she can be seen flaunting her legs in a high-slit denim dress, along with her mother Madhu, who is dressed in a black top and a floral mini skirt.

Priyanka captioned the image, "Legs for days...

#itsthegenes with Madhu Chopra nights out in #Berlin #beingbaywatch." 

The "Quantico" star is in Germany to promote her Hollywood debut "Baywatch".

She met PM Modi in Berlin, while he was in Germany as part of a four-nation trip.

After her meeting with the PM, Priyanka wrote on Twitter, "Thank you for taking the time to meet me this morning @narendramodi Sir. Such a lovely coincidence to be in #berlin at the same time.

PM holds talks with President Mariano Rajoy in Madrid. Seven agreements exchanged between India and Spain

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in a round table interaction with the Spanish CEOs, in Madrid, Spain on May 31, 2017.

Madrid :The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today held talks with the President of the Spanish Government, Mariano Rajoy, in Madrid. 

During his opening remarks, the Prime Minister said that today's talks will go a long way in furthering ties between the two countries. The Prime Minister said that in an interconnected and interdependent world - Spain and India can work together both for mutual benefit, and for the benefit of the world at large. He described President Rajoy as a visionary leader. 

The Prime Minister said India and Spain have both faced the scourge of terrorism, and will both focus on fighting it. 

The Prime Minister said both India and Spain are engaging in vigorous economic reform. He said there is immense scope for cooperation in infrastructure, railways and smart cities. 

The Prime Minister said that the vision of "New India" will be enhanced through the "New Momentum" in relations between India and Spain. 

Seven agreements were exchanged between the two countries, covering subjects such as energy, security and civil aviation. 

Prime Minister Modi later met with Spanish CEOs. He said during the meeting that there is immense potential for further growth of Spanish investments in India. He mentioned in particular, sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, food processing, auto, chemicals and textiles. He invited Spanish participation in the Smart Cities initiative. He also gave a broad overview of the economic reforms undertaken in India, including GST. He asserted that initiatives like Make in India, Digital India and Start up India have become global magnets for investment. 

The Prime Minister also called on His Majesty King Felipe VI. 

Modi backs Merkel's EU leadership as Trump scolds Germany

Berlin, May 30 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today backed German Chancellor Angela Merkel's "strong leadership" in uniting the European Union at a time the economic grouping showed signs of strain over the UK's decision to exit it and the protectionist stance adopted by US President Donald Trump.

Modi, whose visit to Germany comes less than a week after Merkel provided the strongest indication yet that the EU and the US under President Trump were drifting apart, said India would play a positive role in boosting unity in the grouping.

Modi's public support comes at a crucial time for Merkel, who has been fighting secessionist tendencies within the bloc since Britain decided to leave the 28-member grouping through a referendum in June last year.

The prime minister praised Merkel's "strong leadership" and said a EU-focused vision is what the world needed. He also said a global order based on democracy is the need of the hour, in an interconnected and interdependent world.

"EU unity, proactiveness and strong relations with other countries is extremely important for global development. We want the EU to become stronger and India will play a positive role towards that through the medium of Germany," he told reporters at a joint briefing with Merkel, who hosts Chinese Premier Li Keqiang tomorrow.

The visit by Asian leaders in quick succession have led to the western media calling it an "Asian pivot" to Europe and Germany, the most important pillar of the EU now that Britain was preparing to exit the largest single market.

Responding to a question, Modi said India and Germany were "made for each other". He said the two countries share the values of innovation and democracy and these values were "a blessing for mankind".

He explained the huge synergy that exists between German capabilities and Indian requirements.

Merkel last week said that reliable ties forged since the end of World War II "are to some extent over." Germany's Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel followed her and blasted the US, saying the Trump administration's "short-sighted policies... stand against the interest of the European Union".

The remarks came soon after G7 and NATO summits, where news reports suggested that not all was well between her and Trump, who is leading the US towards a more protectionist stance on economic issues and has called for NATO to pay for their share of expenditure of the Atlantic military alliance.

Also, during the presidential election in France, the other key member of the EU, Trump tacitly backed the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and her vocal support to leave the EU.

But she lost the election earlier this month.

The US and Germany are also not on the same page on climate change issue. Trump has vowed to walk away from the historic Paris deal while Merkel supports the agreement.

"Europe and the world are facing lots of challenges and to fight those, India believes, the world needs the strong leadership of Chancellor Merkel," Modi added.

Merkel said that Europe must "take our fate into our own hands" and added that it should step up as a diplomatic player on the international stage.

"The times in which we can fully count on others are somewhat over, as I have experienced in the past few days," she repeated today.

"Others," in this case, seems to be a euphemism; Merkel was clearly talking about the US, according to The Washington Post.

Soon after her comments, Trump swiftly blasted Germany over trade imbalance. "We have a MASSIVE trade deficit with Germany, plus they pay FAR LESS than they should on NATO & military. Very bad for US. This will change(sic)," he tweeted.

Merkel, however, had also said Germany's relationship with the US was of "outstanding importance" but it must also engage with other important nations.

"We live in a globalised world and India...is a partner," she said.

"India wants the world not just to be interconnected but also that it should be sensibly run," Merkel said, endorsing a trade deal in the works between India and the European Union.

Germany is the largest trading partner for India in the EU and one of the leading sources of foreign direct investment into the country.

Modi arrives in Germany on first leg of four-nation tour

Berlin, May 29 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here today on the first leg of his six-day, four-nation tour of Germany, Spain, Russia and France aimed at boosting bilateral economic engagement with them and inviting more investment for India's transformation.

"Reached Germany. I am sure this visit will lead to beneficial outcomes & deepen India-Germany friendship," Modi tweeted in English and German after landing here.

His Germany visit, which he described as a "new chapter" in bilateral relations, will begin with a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel at her country retreat of Schloss Meseberg.

Both leaders will discuss issues of mutual interest in an informal setting over dinner at the 18th-century palace, nearly 80 km northwest of Berlin.

"I am confident that this visit will open a new chapter in our bilateral cooperation with Germany and further deepen our strategic partnership," Modi said in a Facebook post ahead of his visit.

Modi said he and Merkel will "chart out a future roadmap of cooperation with focus on trade and investment, security and counter-terrorism, innovation and science and technology, skill development, urban infrastructure, railways and civil aviation, clean energy, development cooperation, health and alternative medicine." 

Describing Germany as a valuable partner, the prime minister said, "German competencies fit well with my vision for India's transformation." 

The more formal part of the visit will begin tomorrow when Modi is welcomed with military honours at the Chancellery, following which he will hold talks with Merkel as part of the fourth round of the bi-annual India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations [IGC]. The last IGC was held in New Delhi in October 2015 when bilateral ties were significantly scaled up.

In Berlin, the two leaders are expected to clinch a host of agreements and are likely to deliberate on several pressing global issues, including the situation in the South China Sea, China's 'One Belt, One Road' initiative and the growing threat of terrorism.

Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merkel will have a luncheon meeting with senior business leaders before inaugurating the Indo-German Business Forum tomorrow.

The deadlocked Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union (EU) is likely to take centre-stage at this meeting, with Germany-based CEOs keen to push for a further opening up of the Indian market.

The India-Germany Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), among India's 23 BITs with EU countries, had lapsed in March this year. Trade between the two countries stands at 17.42 billion euros in 2016, up only marginally from 17.33 billion euros the previous year.

Germany is the seventh largest foreign direct investor (FDI) in India and the total FDI from April 2000 until December 2016 amounted to USD 9.54 billion. A total of 1,800 German companies are operating in India.

The German embassy in Berlin had launched the Make in India Mittelstand (MIIM) Programme in September 2015 to facilitate the German Mittelstand (SMEs) to do business in India.

Currently 73 German Mittelstand (SMEs) companies are being facilitated through MIIM Programme for their market entry and investment in India.

Out of these, 46 companies have progressed well in India investment plan, the embassy claims.

Modi will end his German tour with a courtesy call on German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, before leaving for Spain tomorrow evening.

Charges to be framed tomo against Advani, Joshi in Babri case

Lucknow, May 29 (PTI) BJP stalwarts L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti will appear before a special CBI court here tomorrow for framing of charges in the Babri Masjid demolition case.

Besides them, Special CBI judge S K Yadav had asked BJP leader Vinay Katiyar, VHP's Vishnu Hari Dalmia and a one-time firebrand Hindutva preacher Sadhvi Ritambara to present themselves before the court in person.

While directing the accused to present themselves in person, the judge had said no application for adjournment or exemption from personal appearance shall be entertained.

The court, which is hearing two separate cases relating to the demolition of the Babri masjid, would also frame charges against Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Mahant Ram Vilas Vedanti, Baikunth Lal Sharma alias Prem Ji, Champat Rai Bansal, Mahant Dharma Das and Satish Pradhan in the second matter.

The Supreme Court had on April 19 ordered prosecution of Advani (89), Joshi (83), 58-year-old Bharti, and other accused for criminal conspiracy in the politically sensitive case. It had also ordered day-to-day trial to be concluded in two years.

The top court had called the destruction of the medieval-era monument a "crime" which shook the "secular fabric of the Constitution" while allowing the CBI's plea seeking restoration of criminal conspiracy charge against the four BJP leaders, including Katiyar (62), and others.

However, the Supreme Court had said BJP leader Kalyan Singh, who is the Rajasthan Governor and during whose tenure as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh the disputed structure was razed, is entitled to immunity under the Constitution as long as he holds the gubernatorial office.

It had transferred the case against Advani, Joshi, Bharti and three other accused from a Raebareli court to Lucknow for a joint trial in the demolition case.

PTI Exclusive: Dirty war has to be fought with innovative ways: Gen Bipin Rawat

New Delhi, May 28 (PTI) The Indian Army is facing a "dirty war" in Jammu and Kashmir which has to be fought through "innovative" ways, Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat has said, stoutly defending the use of a Kashmiri as a 'human shield' by a young officer.

In an exclusive interaction with PTI, Rawat said the main objective of awarding Major Leetul Gogoi, when a Court of Inquiry was finalising its probe into the incident, was to boost the morale of young officers of the force who are operating in a very difficult environment in the militancy- infested state.

"This is a proxy war and proxy war is a dirty war. It is played in a dirty way. The rules of engagements are there when the adversary comes face-to-face and fights with you. It is a dirty war... That is where innovation comes in. You fight a dirty war with innovations," Rawat said, in what were the General's most comprehensive comments yet to the media on the issue.

The Army Chief's Commendation medal to Gogoi, who had tied a man to an army jeep and used him as a human shield from stone throwers last month was criticised by human rights activists, Kashmiri groups and by a few retired army generals.

A video of the incident had triggered a row with many condemning it.

Gogoi was awarded for his sustained efforts in counter- insurgency operations.

"People are throwing stones at us, people are throwing petrol bombs at us. If my men ask me what do we do, should I say, just wait and die? I will come with a nice coffin with a national flag and I will send your bodies home with honour. Is it what I am supposed to tell them as chief? I have to maintain the morale of my troops who are operating there," Gen Rawat said.

Talking about the complexity of the security challenge in the state, he suggested it would have been easier for the armed forces if the protesters were firing weapons instead of throwing stones.

"In fact, I wish these people, instead of throwing stones at us, were firing weapons at us. Then I would have been happy. Then I could do what I (want to do)," he said.

Gen Rawat, who had served in Jammu and Kashmir extensively, said if people in any country lose fear of the army, then the country is doomed.

"Adversaries must be afraid of you and at the same time your people must be afraid of you. We are a friendly army, but when we are called to restore law and order, people have to be afraid of us," he said.

At the same time, he asserted that maximum restraint is being maintained while handling the situation in the Valley.

Gen Rawat said that as the Army chief, it was his duty to lift the morale of the army personnel in Jammu and Kashmir and he did it by awarding Major Gogoi.

"As Army Chief my concern is morale of the Army. That is my job. I am far away from the battle field. I cannot influence the situation there. I can only tell the boys that I am with you. I always tell my people, things will go wrong, but if things have gone wrong and you did not have malafide intent, I am there," he said.

Gen Rawat said there was a ploy to break the trust between various security forces, and Major Gogoi could not have refused to provide security when polling agents had sought security assistance.

"Tomorrow elections have to be held in Anantnag and similar things may happen. If the army does not respond to call for assistance, then the trust between the people whom we are protecting, police and army will break.

"That is something I cannot allow to happen. This is what the militants want. It can create a divide between the army and other security forces," he said.

The Army Chief said he had a broad idea about what was going on in the Court of Inquiry into the Gogoi incident, and that is why he went ahead with awarding the Major. "I know what is happening in the COI. It is being finalised. What do we punish him for."

He said armed forces have the right of self defence and Major Gogoi could have opted for firing at the crowd but he chose not to resort to it.

Farooq Dar, who was tied to the jeep, says he is not a militant or a stone thrower, and was only returning home after casting his vote in the by-election when he was hauled away.

He says he still suffers from physical and mental trauma after being paraded on the jeep's bonnet with a sign slung around his neck, warning stone pelters of the consequences.

The Army Chief said just four districts of South Kashmir were disturbed and it was incorrect to say that entire Kashmir has gone out of control.

"It will have to be a composite solution. Everybody will have to get involved. Army's role is to ensure that violence does not take place and the common man who is not indulging in this (violence) is protected," he said, when asked about the solution to the Kashmir issue.

He also emphasised on the need for taking harsh measures to stop infiltration and counter-terrorism.

The Army Chief also wondered why not much noise was made when young army officer Lt Umar Fayaz was killed by militants when he was on leave.

Asked whether there should be a political initiative to reach out to the Kashmiri people, the Army Chief said it was for the government to decide, adding such initiatives were taken in the past as well.

"Has political initiative not been taken in the past? What was the result, you had Kargil...," he said.

To a separate question, the Army Chief said he does not anticipate a "limited war" with Pakistan.