In London, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar discussed the situation in Kashmir, highlighting the Indian government’s actions, such as the removal of Article 370, which aimed to restore economic growth and social justice while facilitating successful elections. He noted that the only unresolved issue is the part of Jammu and Kashmir under Pakistan’s control, asserting that all Indian political parties are committed to reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). Jaishankar emphasized that the matter of POK has gained renewed focus following the Article 370 repeal and reiterated that it is integral to India, echoing previous statements made earlier in May 2024.
London:
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar discussed the situation in Kashmir, highlighting the actions taken by the Indian government, including the abrogation of Article 370, the resurgence of growth and economic activity, and the promotion of social justice in the region, alongside the successful conduct of elections in the Union Territory, which saw high voter turnout.
He further emphasized that the only remaining obstacle to a complete resolution of the issues in Jammu and Kashmir is the portion of the territory unlawfully occupied by Pakistan.
Jaishankar made these comments while addressing an audience at the Chatham House in London.
When questioned about the Kashmir issue, EAM Jaishankar stated: “In Kashmir, we have, I believe, made significant progress in addressing most of the concerns. The removal of Article 370 was a crucial first step. Next, we focused on restoring growth, economic activity, and social justice in Kashmir, which served as step number two. The holding of elections with a robust voter turnout was step number three. The final part we are awaiting is the return of the illegally occupied territory of Kashmir, currently under Pakistani control. Once that happens, I assure you, the Kashmir issue will be resolved.”
Earlier, on May 9, 2024, EAM Jaishankar reaffirmed that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is part of India and asserted that every Indian political party is dedicated to the goal of bringing POK back into India.
During a session with students at Gargi College, Delhi University, EAM Jaishankar remarked, “All I can say about POK is that there is a Parliament resolution… every political party in this country is committed to ensuring that POK, which is a part of India, returns to India. That is our national commitment.”
He also emphasized that the abolition of Article 370 in August 2019 opened the pathway for people to reconsider the matter of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
“With the critical decision to revoke Article 370, the topic of POK has re-emerged in public discourse. The first prerequisite for any action is that the issue must be present in people’s minds,” he stated.
On May 5, 2024, EAM Jaishankar reiterated that POK is part of India, noting that people were “led to forget” about it. In response to a query regarding India’s stance on POK during an event in Cuttack, Odisha, he stated, “POK has never been excluded from this nation. It remains an integral part. There is a resolution from the Indian Parliament affirming that POK is indeed a part of India.”
He pointed out that India had not urged Pakistan to withdraw from the region during the “early post-independence years,” which contributed to the ongoing “lamentable situation.”
“When someone who is not a responsible guardian is in charge, external forces end up stealing,” EAM Jaishankar remarked.
The External Affairs Minister stated that people had been “encouraged to forget” about the POK issue, but it is now being brought back into the public consciousness.
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