Condolences pour in from US, Russia, Pakistan, other countries over CDS Bipin Rawat's demise

Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 other people on board an Indian Air Force helicopter died in a crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu

China and Pakistan joined Russia, the United States and other nations to condole the death of India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and others in a helicopter crash on Wednesday.

The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin condoled the death of the senior-most military official of India. “We'll remember Gen Rawat as an exceptional leader who served his country and contributed to the US-India defence relationship,” tweeted Blinken.

“Gen Rawat left an indelible mark on the course of the US-India defence partnership and was at the centre of the Indian Armed Forces’ transformation into a more jointly integrated war-fighting organisation,” Austin said in a statement issued in Washington D.C.

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“I had the privilege of meeting with him earlier this year and viewed him as a valued partner and friend of the United States,” Austin recalled his meeting with Gen Rawat in Washington D.C. on September 30.

The American Embassy in New Delhi also issued a statement, recalling Gen Rawat’s visit to Washington D.C. and his discussion with General Mark Milley, Chair of Joint Chief of Staff of the US. Gen Rawat and Gen Milley discussed military developments and opportunities to enhance defence cooperation.

“Russia has lost a very close friend, who played a big role in promotion of our bilateral special and privileged strategic partnership. Grieving together with India. Goodbye, friend! Farewell, Commander!” Nikolay Kudashev, Moscow’s envoy to New Delhi, tweeted.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of Maldives, Prime Minister Lotay Tshering of Bhutan and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba of Nepal tweeted to convey condolence to the bereaved families of the deceased as well as the government and the people of India.

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“Deep condolences on the sad demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and other victims in the helicopter crash accident. My sympathy goes to all the family members of General Bipin Rawat,” Beijing’s envoy to New Delhi, Sun Weidong, posted on Twitter.

Pakistan’s army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Nadeem Raza also expressed condolences on the tragic death of the CDS of India.

The Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, A K Abdul Momen, wrote to his counterpart in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, conveying the “deepest condolence” on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the death of Gen Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and others.

The United Kingdom, France, Australia, Israel, Poland, Czech Republic, Japan, Taiwan, Germany and Singapore also condoled the death of the senior-most military official of India.

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