External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar talked about the situation in Kashmir, emphasizing major decisions taken by the Indian government, such as scrapping Article 370, development of economic growth and social justice in the valley, and holding elections in the Union Territory, which witnessed high voter turnout.
Addressing Chatham House in London, Jaishankar said that the only outstanding matter regarding Jammu and Kashmir was the area that is now under Pakistan's illegal occupation.
Replying to a query about Kashmir, EAM Jaishankar said, "Look, in Kashmir, I think we have done a good job of solving most of the problems. The first step was to abrogate Article 370, followed by resuming economic activity and securing social justice. The third step was to conduct elections, which had an impressive turnout of voters. The last step that remains to be taken is the recovery of the illegally occupied part of Kashmir from Pakistan. Once that is achieved, I assure you—Kashmir will be solved completely."
Earlier, on May 9, 2024, EAM Jaishankar reiterated that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) is part of India and reiterated that all Indian political parties are devoted to its ultimate reunification with the nation.
Addressing a dialogue with Delhi University's Gargi College students, he asserted, "All I can say about POK is that there is a Parliament resolution, and every political party in this country is committed to seeing that POK, rightfully a part of India, comes back to India. That is our national commitment."
Jaishankar added that the repeal of Article 370 in August 2019 was instrumental in redefining public opinion towards POK.
"Since we finally made the correct move by abolishing Article 370, the issue of POK has now arrived at the centre of people's minds. First step towards reaching something is that it stays at the back of people's mind," he stated.
Earlier, on May 5, 2024, at a function in Cuttack, Odisha, Jaishankar once again asserted that POK is and always has been part of India, but circumstances of the past had made people forget about it.
"POK was never outside this nation; it was always part of India. The Indian Parliament has adopted a resolution stating this," he said.
Looking at history, Jaishankar had said that India's inability to call for Pakistan's withdrawal from the area in the initial years of independence had given rise to the current situation.
"Whenever you have somebody who is not a responsible guardian of the house, some outsider takes the opportunity and steals," he had said.
He concluded stressing that the case of POK, which disappeared from public parlance over a period of years, has today been brought into the national collective consciousness.
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