Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a powerful statement on Thursday asserting that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will eventually return to India of its own accord. Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Summit, Singh said the emotional and cultural connection of people living across the Line of Control (LoC) with India remains strong. “Those in PoK are our own; they’re a part of our family. There’s a deep bond that cannot be erased, and the day is not far when they will themselves say, ‘I am India, I have come back,’” he declared.
He credited India’s strengthened military posture to the indigenous advancements under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. According to Singh, it is because of these homegrown defence capabilities that the Indian Armed Forces were able to execute impactful responses against cross-border terrorism, including the recent ‘Operation Sindoor’. He stressed that these initiatives have not only fortified national security but also positioned India as self-reliant in dealing with external threats.
Rajnath Singh further reinforced his message by drawing a historical analogy, comparing the people of PoK to Maharana Pratap’s brother, Shakti Singh—estranged but deeply connected by blood. The Defence Minister also clarified that the Modi government has changed the framework of engagement with Pakistan. He stated that future dialogues with Islamabad would focus solely on issues of terrorism and the status of PoK, underlining a decisive shift in India’s foreign policy and defence narrative.
