The military is ready to back any initiative to normalize ties with India, Pak army chief Gen Bajwa said.His address came in the backdrop of US emphasis to Pak leadership on mending ties with India. He also accused India of fomenting instability in Pak and developing strong nexus with Afghan intel

ISLAMABAD: In an extraordinary gesture, Pakistan army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, urged the country's lawmakers to try to improve relations with India, assuring them that their efforts would be fully backed by the Army. His address comes in the backdrop of sustained American emphasis to Pakistani leadership on mending ties with India.

"The military is ready to back political leadership's initiative for normalization of relations with India," Gen Bajwa told lawmakers at the senate committee of the whole House during his first appearance before a parliamentary forum on Tuesday.

Gen Bajwa was invited by senate chairman Raza Rabbani and was accompanied by Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Naveed Mukhtar. Top military officers, Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and Major General Asim Munir. The session continued for nearly four-and-a-half hours.