Omar Abdullah on PoK: Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar made his comments on PoK during a Q&A session at the Chatham House think tank in London. He claimed that India has made significant progress on the Kashmir issue, with the abrogation of Article 370 being the first step.
Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has responded to Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar’s statement regarding Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Jaishankar had said that the solution to the Kashmir issue would come when Pakistan vacates PoK. In response, Abdullah sharply questioned, “Who is stopping them?”
Abdullah challenged the central government, urging them to take action if they have the capability to regain PoK. He added, “Have we ever stopped them? They criticize Congress over Haji Pir Pass, but during the Kargil war, they had the opportunity to reclaim it. But they failed to do so. If they can get it back, they should do it now.”
Abdullah expressed concern about the fact that one part of Jammu and Kashmir is under Pakistan’s control while another is under China’s. He raised the question, “One part of Jammu and Kashmir is with Pakistan, but the other part is with China. Why is no one talking about this?”
What did Jaishankar say?
On Wednesday, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar made comments about PoK during a Q&A session at the Chatham House think tank in London. Jaishankar claimed that India has made significant progress on the Kashmir issue, with the abrogation of Article 370 being the first step. He also highlighted the economic development and restoration of social justice in Kashmir, referencing the high voter turnout in recent elections.
Jaishankar emphasized that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is an integral part of India and should be reclaimed. He stated, “I believe the part we are waiting for is under Pakistan’s illegal occupation. Once it is reclaimed, the Kashmir issue will be resolved.”
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately rejected Jaishankar’s remarks. Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stated, “Instead of making baseless claims about a free Jammu and Kashmir, India should vacate the large part of Jammu and Kashmir that it has occupied for 77 years.”
BJP’s Response
Soon after Omar Abdullah’s comments, BJP leader and opposition leader Sunil Sharma attacked Abdullah, questioning why he responded to Jaishankar’s statement. Sharma said, “He should have answered the issues raised by his own party’s MLAs in the assembly. I think Omar Sahib is speaking nonsense. He should address the questions raised by Jammu and Kashmir’s MLAs.”
BJP leader Ajay Alok expressed confidence that under the Modi government, both Aksai Chin and PoK will return to India. He said, “We will definitely bring them back. Aksai Chin, which is with China, is our part, and PoK is also our part, and we will definitely bring it back. This is the Modi government, and everything is possible.”
