Union Minister and former Army Chief General VK Singh (retd) has expressed confidence that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) will eventually join India on its own.
These words were delivered in response to questions about the demands of POK residents seeking a merger with India, as well as the BJP's stance on the issue.
General VK Singh told reporters in Dausa, Rajasthan, later this year where Assembly elections are planned, "POK apne aap Bharat ke andar aayega." "Thoda thand rakh," he says. (On its own, Pakistan will join with India. Allow some time).
These remarks follow China's recent issuance of a revised "standard map," which included Aksai Chin in Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, and disputed South China Sea regions.
S Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, harshly condemned China's map, calling it an "old habit" and underlining India's territorial claims.
According to Jaishankar, just adding Indian regions on maps does not change the ground reality, and India remains steadfast in protecting its territorial integrity.
The Indian government has repeatedly maintained that POK is a part of India and has chastised Pakistan and its ally, China, for mentioning Kashmir in their joint statements.
During the SCO Summit in Goa in May, Jaishankar openly denounced Pakistan for encouraging and funding terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, while querying when it would "vacate" the illegally held territory.
He made these remarks, interestingly, in the presence of Pakistan's then-foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Furthermore, Jaishankar repeated last year that POK is unmistakably a part of India and expressed confidence that India would establish physical authority over it in the future, emphasising the government's unwavering stance on the issue.
General VK Singh's comment supports the Indian government's expectation that POK will eventually reunify with India.
India's officials, particularly External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, have often stated that POK is a vital part of the country, and they have stated their intention to safeguard India's territorial boundaries in the face of geopolitical obstacles and hostility from Pakistan and China.