External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar spoke on the Kashmir issue, underlining the efforts of the Indian government to restore stability and growth to the state. He underscored the importance of scrapping Article 370, ensuring economic growth, social justice, and holding elections in the Union Territory with a high turnout.
Referring to Chatham House in London, Jaishankar made a statement where he said the sole outstanding matter regarding the dispute of Kashmir is that portion of Jammu and Kashmir which remains in Pakistan's illegal occupation.
When questioned regarding the Kashmir situation, EAM Jaishankar replied: "Look in Kashmir actually we have done I think good job solving most of it. I think, removing article 370 was one step number one. Then, restoring growth and economic activity and social justice in Kashmir.
It was step number two, holding elections, which were done with a very high turnout for step number three. I think the part we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir, which is on the, the illegal Pakistani occupation. When that's done, I assure you. Kashmir solved."
Earlier, on May 9, 2024, Jaishankar had reaffirmed that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) is part of India, assuring that all political parties in the nation stand united in their determination to reunite POK under Indian control.
In a dialogue with students of Delhi University's Gargi College in New Delhi, he said, "All I can say about POK is that there a Parliament resolution.every political party of this country is committed to the fact that POK, being part of India, will return to India. That is our national commitment."
Jaishankar further noted that revocation of Article 370 in August 2019 had set the POK issue at the center of the country's narrative.
"Since we have now made the right choice of Article 370, the POK issue has arrived at the center of people's minds. The first prerequisite to something happening is that it needs to be on your mind," he clarified.
On May 5, 2024, in a function held in Cuttack, Odisha, Jaishankar again clarified that POK has never been out of the country and India was made to forget this reality. Answering a question on the attitude of India towards POK, he said, "POK has never been outside this country. It is part of this country. There is a resolution of the Indian Parliament that POK is very much a part of India."
He also pondered why India did not force Pakistan to leave the land in the initial years following independence, and this resulted in the current problem.
"When you have someone who is not a responsible custodian of the house, bahar se koi chori kar leta hai (someone steals from outside)," he said.
The External Affairs Minister stressed that the POK issue was purposely ignored for years, but now it has been brought to the forefront of public awareness.
Read also| Supreme Court Rules 'Miyan-Tiyan' and 'Pakistani' Remarks Not Offensive
Read also| 'IIT Baba' Abhay Singh Detained in Jaipur for Marijuana Possession Under NDPS Act
