S Jaishankar reiterated India's stance on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), emphasizing that it has always been an integral part of India. During an event in Odisha, he highlighted that PoK has never been out of India's domain, emphasizing a resolution passed by the Indian Parliament affirming its status.
Jaishankar also pointed out that during the early years of independence, India refrained from pressing Pakistan to vacate PoK, leading to a situation where irresponsible behavior continued. He metaphorically likened this situation to a scenario where an irresponsible custodian allows theft to occur from outside the house.
The External Affairs Minister emphasized that efforts have been made to raise awareness about the issue of PoK among the public, bringing it back into the national consciousness.
His remarks echo Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's recent statement, where Singh expressed confidence that the people of PoK would eventually desire to be part of India due to the progress and peace witnessed in the region.
Jaishankar also addressed the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that it should have been done earlier. He highlighted the adverse impact of Article 370, attributing it to fostering separatism and extremism in the region. Jaishankar emphasized that removing Article 370 was necessary as it was a temporary provision exploited by those with vested interests.
