External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has made a firm statement regarding the reintegration of the Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir into the Union of India. He asserted that reclaiming PoJK is indeed a national commitment for Bharat and indeed the return of PoJK is etched in the aspirations of the people of this country. He further stated that there is a firm and strong parliamentary resolution to ensure the return of PoJK to the Union of India and “every political party of this country is committed to ensure PoJK which is hitherto a part of India returns to India”.
While speaking on the return of Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir to India, EAM Jaishankar quoted the illustration of abolition of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir. He said that people just had assumed that Article 370 and the reality in Jammu & Kashmir cannot be changed and had accepted the politics of the day as inevitable and irreversible. Infact the politics of that day had instilled such a perception in the minds of the people. However, once Article 370 is been abolished the entire ground situation has changed. Similarly, with government’s unparalleled commitment and people’s aspirations, PoJK will return to India, asserted Dr. Jaishankar.
Abolition of Article 370 ignited the hope of PoJK among people
EAM Jaishankar exclaimed that the bold move taken by the government i.e. abolition of Article 370 instilled a hope and confidence among the people regarding the return of PoJK. People have started to discuss about PoJK in public forums, but that was not the situation a decade ago because of various political reasons.
“People were not asking about these 10 years ago. It is when we put 370 to rest, people began to realize that PoJK is also important. What is happened today is because we have finally taken the right decision on 370, I think the PoJK issue has also come to the front of the thinking among people”, said EAM Jaishankar.
He said that this is indeed the first step in the path of reclaiming PoJK, because to realize some goal the prerequisite is “first it must be in your thoughts. Once it is in your thoughts the rest will certainly happen”. Dr. Jaishankar thus reiterated that the conscious deliberation, consistent effort and ultimately the collective will of people will yield in the return of PoJK into the Union of Bharat.
Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had also given statements on similar lines. He said that PoJK will return to India not because of the military actions of India, but because of the aspirations of the civilians of PoJK. Apparently, the people of PoJK are frustrated with the illegal occupation and misdeeds of the Pakistani government in the region. PoJK is devoid of fundamental rights, basic infrastructure and other developmental prospects. This angst of the very people of PoJK will pull them away from Islamabad.
Lately, the people of PoJK have also unleashed a massive protest against the misdeeds of the Pakistani government and are demanding for civil liberties, rights and development. They have presented a 38-point charter to Islamabad and has demanded to fulfill all the aspects or else have threatened for a severe repercussion. On the other hand, the Pakistani government is seeking to mercilessly suppress the protestors. This very negligence and atrocity of Islamabad towards illegally occupied PoJK will automatically drift the region away from Pakistan and integrate with India in future.
