India, May 12 -- Former Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane has criticised those questioning the suspension of hostilities between India and Pakistan, saying that war is neither romantic nor cinematic.

"War is not romantic. It is not your Bollywood movie. It is very serious business," Naravane said at an event in Pune on Sunday. He stressed that war should always be the last resort. "If ordered, I will go to war, but that would never be my first choice," he said. Naravane added that diplomacy must take precedence over conflict.

Naravane referred to the trauma civilians living near the border endure, especially children who grow up facing shelling and running to shelters. "For those who have lost loved ones that trauma is carried th...