Farooq Abdullah responds to Rajnath Singh’s PoK promise, asserts Pakistan’s resilience

PTC News Desk: In a resolute statement, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reiterated India’s unwavering stance on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), affirming it as an integral part of India. Singh emphasised that India would not resort to military action to reclaim PoK, as its inhabitants are increasingly expressing a desire to unite with India following the progress and prosperity witnessed in Kashmir.

Reacting to Singh’s comments, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah cautioned against underestimating Pakistan’s military capabilities, highlighting its possession of nuclear weapons.

Speaking to PTI, Rajnath Singh expressed confidence that the growing peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir would lead to demands for the merger of PoK with India. He asserted that PoK has always belonged to India and will continue to do so.

Singh further disclosed plans for upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir, although he refrained from specifying a timeline. Additionally, he anticipated the eventual repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the region and urged Pakistan to cease its support for cross-border terrorism.

In response, Farooq Abdullah challenged Rajnath Singh to act on his words and reclaim PoK, cautioning against underestimating Pakistan’s military capabilities. Abdullah also predicted that the announcement of Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls would follow the conclusion of the Amarnath Yatra.

Regarding recent security incidents in Kashmir, Abdullah criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, citing the persistence of terrorism despite the revocation of Article 370. He stressed the need for dialogue between India and Pakistan to address the root causes of tension in the region.