Condolences pour in from US, Russia, Pak over CDS Bipin Rawat's demise

New Delhi, December 8

The US, Russia, Pakistan, Bhutan, the UK, France and Israel were among the countries that condoled the death of CDS Gen Bipin Rawat.

Condolences also came from the Presidents of Sri Lanka, Maldives and Nepal.

“Farewell, commander!”, said Nikolay Kudashev, Ambassador of Russia to India while Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said, "Goodbye, friend!” as tributes poured in from envoys, ministers and Army chiefs with whom General Rawat had interacted extensively as India adopted a more outward oriented security posture under his command. From Pakistan, Chief of the Air Staff, ACM Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Nadeem Raza expressed their condolences over the “loss of precious lives” in the helicopter crash.

The US Embassy noted that General Rawat had “spearheaded a historic period of transformation’’ in the Indian military and was overseeing a major expansion of India’s defence cooperation with the US military.

French envoy Emmanuel Lenain said he was “deeply saddened” by the demise of Gen Rawat, his wife, and other defence officials. Israeli envoy Naor Gilon extended condolences on behalf of Israel’s defence establishment. Australian envoy Barry O’Farrel described Gen Rawat as a “great patriot and hero”. — TNS