Ishfaq Gulzar cni

New Delhi, CNI ;-In a powerful message aimed at both the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the government in Islamabad, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that PoK residents are part of the Indian family and expressed confidence that they would voluntarily return to India’s mainstream.
Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Business Summit, Singh reaffirmed India’s evolving strategic posture, declaring that the country’s policy toward Pakistan has been “redesigned and redefined,” with future dialogue limited strictly to the issues of terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
“I believe that the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are our own, part of our family,” the minister said. “We have full faith that those of our brothers who are geographically and politically separated from us today will also return to the mainstream of India someday, listening to their voice of soul.”
He emphasized that most people in PoK maintain a deep emotional and cultural connection with India and that only a small fraction have been misled.
“India always talks about connecting hearts, and we believe that by walking on the path of love, unity and truth, the day is not far when our own part, PoK, will return and say, ‘I am India, I have returned’,” Singh added.
In a stern warning to Pakistan, Singh said that the “business of terrorism” is no longer sustainable and will come at a heavy cost — a reality that Islamabad is beginning to understand.
Highlighting India’s growing domestic defence capabilities, the Defence Minister noted the sharp rise in defence exports over the past decade. “India’s defence export was less than ₹1,000 crore 10 years ago. Today, it stands at a record ₹23,500 crore,” he said, underlining the success of the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative in the defence sector.
Singh’s remarks are seen as a reaffirmation of India’s firm stance on national security and territorial integrity, as well as a message of hope and unity for the people of PoK.(CNI)