Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Pakistan must destroy its terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) or suffer repercussions for its continuous efforts to undermine India by funding terrorism.
He claimed that without PoJK, Jammu and Kashmir would not be complete and that the region is being used as a terrorist hotspot, with its land being used as a base for infiltration operations and training camps.
“The land of PoK is being used to run the business of terrorism. Even today, terrorist training camps are operational there. Launch pads have been established in areas near the border, and the Indian government has concrete information about this and is fully aware of the situation. Pakistan must eliminate this, otherwise …,” Singh said while addressing a veterans’ rally in Akhnoor area.
Reiterating India’s position on PoJK, he said “Jammu and Kashmir is incomplete without PoK. For Pakistan, PoJK is nothing more than foreign territory.”
He added that Pakistan’s leadership had taken advantage of the people in PoK in the garb of religion in order to pursue their anti-Indian agenda, depriving them of a dignified living.
Additionally, Singh denounced recent statements made by PoJK Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq, claiming that they were a continuation of Pakistan’s anti-Indian campaign that had been fostered since General Zia-ul-Haq’s time.
Hitting out at Pakistan’s failure to abandon its policy of supporting terrorism, Singh said, “Pakistan has always made every effort to destabilize India. It continues its efforts. Despite this, Pakistan has never abandoned terrorism. The terrorists infiltrating Jammu and Kashmir come from Pakistan.”
Additionally, he attacked Pakistan for encouraging infiltration and terrorism since 1965, pointing out that these initiatives have consistently fallen short of winning over the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Neither during the 1965 war nor during the peak of terrorism did the people of Jammu and Kashmir side with Pakistan. Instead, many of our Muslim brothers here sacrificed their lives fighting terrorism,” Singh said.
He also highlighted the sacrifices of individuals like Mohammed Usman, who, he said, laid down their lives to protect the nation’s sovereignty.
He also emphasised the sacrifices made by people like Mohammed Usman, who he said gave their lives in defence of the country’s independence.