Defense Minister Rajnath Singh Invited PoK Residents To Join India
Referring to an affidavit filed by the Pakistan Government Court stating that “PoK is a foreign territory,” Rajnath Singh urged the residents of PoK to join India.
image for illustrative purpose
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in Jammu and Kashmir extended an open invitation to residents of PoK to come and join India as “we consider you our own, unlike Pakistan, which treats you as foreigners."
“We are committed to the development of J&K and India PoK as well as will make such a Kashmir that even people from Pakistan PoK will say they want to be a part of India," he said while addressing Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections at Ramban in favor of BJP candidate Rakesh Singh Thakur.
Singh’s statement comes ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, signaling India’s intent to reclaim the territory. PoK has been under Pakistan's control since 1947, but India maintains that it is an integral part of the country.
India Views on PoK
According to the government, this occupied region is divided into two parts: the so-called “Azad Jammu and Kashmir, or AJK, and Gilgit Baltistan, which makes up 86% of the total area of PoK.
In fact, India has been maintaining that PoK and Gilgit Baltistan are part of Jammu and Kashmir on account of the Union Territory's accession to India in 1947.
In May, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that PoK was, is, and will always be a part of India. “I have no doubt in my mind that someone living in PoK is comparing their situations with someone who is actually living in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that how is it that people today are actually progressing,” he said.
However, during the recent visit, Rajnath highlighted various guarantees included in the BJP manifesto; he said the party wants the safe return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrant pandits and to turn J&K into a modern state of the country. He also said that when Pakistan stops sponsoring terrorism in J&K, India will start a dialogue with them.
And, as the J&K assembly polls approach, Singh's statement is likely to dominate the political discourse, with significant implications for India-Pakistan relations.
