Asks it to dismantle terror infra or face consequences

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday reiterated India’s stance on Jammu and Kashmir being incomplete without Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), and that Islamabad must stop using the territory to sponsor terrorism or be ready to face consequences.

Omar praises forces for safeguarding country

Terror launch pad

Neither in the 1965 war nor during the peak of terrorism did the J&K people side with Pakistan. Even today, over 80% of the terrorists infiltrating into India are born in Pakistan.

Rajnath Singh, Defence minister

Addressing an event on the occasion of Armed Forces Veterans Day at Akhnoor in Jammu, the minister said, “For Pakistan, PoK is nothing more than foreign territory. The people living there have been deprived of a dignified life. Efforts are being made by Pakistan to mislead and provoke the people against India in the name of religion.” The retort is being viewed as a reply to PoK Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq, who had recently called for jihad against India.

Rajnath said Pakistan must immediately dismantle its terror infrastructure. “PoK is being used as a base for terror training camps, which act as launch pads for infiltration. The Indian Government is well aware of the situation. Pakistan will have to put an end to its nefarious designs,” he said.

The minister said Pakistan had been fostering terrorism and infiltration since 1965, but had repeatedly failed to influence the people of J&K. “Neither during the 1965 war nor when terrorism was at its peak did the J&K people side with Pakistan. Even today, over 80 per cent of the terrorists infiltrating into India are born in Pakistan,” he said.

Rajnath said terrorism would have ended in 1965 itself had the then Indian regime “not given away the strategic advantages gained on the battlefield”. “The situation on the ground has significantly improved after the abrogation of Article 370,” he said.

Describing the scrapping of Article 370 as a crucial step towards bridging the gap between J&K and the rest of the nation, he said the veterans’ day event in Akhnoor was a testament to the fact that J&K would always remain an integral part of India.

L-G Manoj Sinha, CM Omar Abdullah and Army Chief Gen Anil Chauhan were among those present at the event at Tanda Artillery Brigade. Rajnath interacted with ex-servicemen and expressed gratitude to the armed forces’ personnel, both retired and serving, for safeguarding the country’s borders.