Pune: Former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Naravane has strongly rebuked those questioning the suspension of hostilities between India and Pakistan, asserting that war is not a glamorous affair but a serious and traumatic undertaking.

Speaking at an event in Pune, Naravane underscored the gravity of war, stating, "War is not romantic. It is not your Bollywood movie. It is very serious business." He highlighted the profound psychological and emotional toll conflict has on civilians, particularly those living in border areas.

"There is trauma among people living in the border areas, including children who have seen shelling and have to run to shelters at night," he said. "For those who have lost their loved ones, that trauma will be carried through generations. There's also something called PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and people who have witnessed gruesome events often wake up sweating, even after 20 years, needing psychiatric care."

Naravane reiterated that war should be a last resort, emphasising that, although he would obey orders if called to war, his first preference would always be diplomacy. "If ordered, I will go to war, but that will not be my first choice," he stated. "Diplomacy, dialogue, and resolving differences peacefully should be the approach, not reaching the stage of armed conflict."

The former Army chief also referred to Prime Minister Modi's statement that this is "not an era of war," urging that violent solutions should not be cheered for.

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to target seven terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. However, following heightened tensions, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire on May 10, announcing a cessation of military actions and firings on land, air, and sea.