Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asserts that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will return to India, citing emotional ties and rising national confidence. Speaking at the CII Summit, he highlighted the ‘Make in India’ defence strength and reaffirmed India’s firm stance on terrorism and PoK in future talks with Pakistan.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will eventually return to India of its own accord, reinforcing the emotional and historical bond shared by people across the Line of Control (LoC). Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Summit in New Delhi, the Defence Minister emphasised that those residing in PoK continue to feel a deep-rooted connection with India.
“I believe that the people of PoK are our own, part of our family,” Singh stated. “We have full faith that our brothers, who are geographically and politically separated from us today, will come back to us. Most of the people there feel a strong connection with India. Only a small section, misled by propaganda, resists integration.”
In a dramatic reflection of his confidence, Singh added, “The day is not far when our own part, PoK, will return and say — ‘I am India, I have come back.’”
He further likened the situation to the legendary story of Maharana Pratap and his estranged brother Shakti Singh. Despite the separation, Maharana Pratap never gave up on his brother, expressing unwavering belief that he would one day return. “He is my brother, how can he go away from me?” Singh quoted, drawing a parallel to India’s faith in the eventual return of PoK.
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Highlighting India’s defence preparedness, Singh credited the ‘Make in India’ initiative for significantly boosting indigenous defence capabilities. “If we did not have this capability, our forces would not have been able to take such effective action against terrorism from Pakistan to PoK,” he said. He described ‘Make in India’ as a cornerstone of national security.
The Defence Minister also spoke of ‘Operation Sindoor’ as a new milestone in India’s counter-terrorism strategy, calling it a benchmark in India’s approach to dealing with cross-border threats. He reiterated the Modi government’s firm stance that any dialogue with Pakistan would henceforth be limited to issues of terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Singh’s speech not only underlined India’s military confidence but also reflected a strong sense of emotional and nationalistic connection with PoK. His remarks are likely to reignite public and political discussions around the future of the region and the government’s evolving strategic priorities.
