NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday stated that India is “waiting for the return of the stolen parts of Kashmir [by Pakistan]” for the issue of Kashmir to be fully resolved. His remarks prompted a strong reaction from the Abdullahs, who questioned why the Centre has not yet taken action to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and that they “should do it now”.
Jaishankar, who was speaking at Chatham House in London, responded to a question on Kashmir, saying: “Look, in Kashmir, we have actually done a good job solving most of it. I think removing Article 370 was step number one. Then, restoring growth, economic activity, and social justice in Kashmir was step number two. Holding elections with a very high turnout was step number three.”
He added: “I think the part we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir, which is under illegal Pakistani occupation. Once that is done, I assure you—Kashmir will be solved.”
Omar & Farooq Abdullah: ‘Who is stopping them from taking PoK?’
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah and his father, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, challenged the Centre over Jaishankar’s statement.
“The foreign minister says they will bring back the part of Kashmir controlled by Pakistan. Did we ever stop them? If the Central government can take it back, then do it now,” Omar Abdullah said in the assembly.
The J&K CM also raised concerns over the lack of discussion on land controlled by China.
“One portion is with Pakistan, but another portion is with China. Why does no one talk about that?” he asked.
National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah also reacted saying: “Who has stopped them from taking (PoK)? They can get it whenever they want to. We have not stopped them.”