Unlike Jammu and Kashmir, the people of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Gilgit Baltistan are living a life of misery, oppression and hardships. In our part of Kashmir, development, progress, thriving economy and equal opportunities to people is the hallmark. The entire opposite is the reality on the other side of the line of control and the international border in Pakistan occupied J&K.
Growing Public Discontent, Social Disorder In PoJK
Media reports are rife with ground realities which depict a growing public discontent and social disorder in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and in Gilgit Baltistan. The people there are deprived of the basic rights amid non-existent basic amenities and public infrastructure.
The gathering storm of public discontent and the incapacity of the PoJK/GB puppet governments to address issues of employment, pensions and, health and education exposes Pakistan’s intentions and the true nature of the relation between the oppressor and the oppressed. The current economic hardship people face on PoJK/GB might just prove to be the last straw that broke the back of the camel. Undoubtedly, the public discontent simmering below the surface is akin to the molten of a volcano waiting for the right pressure to build up in order for it to burst out into the open and become free.
Defence Minister’s Terse Message To Pakistan
India is seized of the matter and keeps a close eye on the situation in PoJK and GB. On one hand the Indian government sympathises and empathises with the people of PoJK. At the same time India is consistent on its position of annexing these parts with the Union of India. It was in this backdrop of the unwavering commitments that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh sent a terse message to Pakistan over its ‘atrocities’ on the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
On October 27, when India was celebrating Shaurya Diwas or the Infantry Day, Rajnath Singh was in Srinagar to participate in an event organized as part of such celebrations. When he mentioned that India has only just begun walking north, and “our journey will be complete when we implement the resolution passed unanimously by the Indian Parliament on February 22, 1994 by reaching the remaining parts (of PoK), Gilgit and Baltistan”, he was only reiterating India government’s commitment with people of PoJK/GB that the time has come when they feel confident about the end of their atrocities and oppression at the hands of Pakistan authorities.
“Our country is watching and feeling the pain of the citizens of PoK, where Pakistan is unleashing torture and harassment. Very soon there will be a rebellion in the PoK by the citizens against the atrocities. Our country is committed to implementing the resolution passed in the Parliament about retrieving Kashmir under illegal occupation of Pakistan,” said the defence minister, adding the regions of J&K and Ladakh are treading the path of development and touching new heights.
Pakistan Rattled
Pakistan was obviously rattled with such a thunderous cry for justice to the people of PoJK and Gilgit Baltistan by none other than a political stalwart and mighty defence minister of a powerful country called India. The Pakistan media and intellectuals began to cry hoarse with as usual sheepish advocacy of solving all the issues through dialogue and not war.
How can a rogue country with a rogue army expect peaceful engagement with those who are victims of its terrorism and proxy war? So, fittingly, the Defence Minister Rajnath has spoken to Pakistan through the language it understands. Undoubtedly, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s dream of national unity will be realised only when the refugees of 1947 get justice and the land of their ancestors is returned to them.
India’s Bold Actions, Indomitable Political Will
All these assurances, commitments and promises with the people of PoJK will be fulfilled by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government in the same boldness and political will as was shown in August 2019 when historical and bold decisions viz-a-viz Kashmir were taken. These decisions will be hailed by the generations for times to come.
PM Modi’s steel frame policy of resolving the issue of Kashmir by fully integrating it with Union of India with the removal of Article 370 has not only received the unwavering support of the proud Indian masses but the decision has fulfilled the dream of Syama Prasad Mookerjee. As Defence Minister Rajnath Singh rightly said the aim of full integration started by Syama Prasad Mookerjee reached its conclusion on August 5, 2019, “when Article 370 was abolished under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.”
So high time for Pakistan to stop torturing and harrassing the Indian people living in the areas under its illegal occupation and hand over such areas to the Indian government for they being the integral part of India. Better if Pakistan vacates the areas peacefully or as the Defence Minister rightly said, the Indian government has the might and wherewithal to annex these areas at the time of its choosing.
The Background
The resolution on PoK adopted unanimously by both Houses of Parliament on February 22, 1994 states that ‘the entire Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are and shall be an integral part of India’. In 2020, in response to an unstarred question, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said that the government monitors all developments taking place in the territories of India including in territories that are under illegal and forcible occupation of Pakistan.
“We have consistently called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal and forcible occupation, and to put an end to the human rights violations and desist from continued attempts to bring material change in these territories,” the MEA had said. New Delhi has vehemently stated that PoK is an integral part of India and even has representation of PoK constituencies in the J&K Assembly.
