BJP and Congress Rally Behind EAM Jaishankar's Statements on PoK Claim

New Delhi, March 6 (NationPress) The Kashmir conflict remains a focal point of national discussions, with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar declaring that the issue is "mostly resolved." Nevertheless, he noted that India is still anticipating the return of the "stolen part" — referring to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), which continues to be under Pakistan’s governance.

EAM Jaishankar's comments have ignited substantial support from prominent political figures, including members of both the BJP and Congress, who collectively assert that PoK is an essential component of India.

Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, in remarks to IANS, reiterated the party’s stance by citing the unanimous resolution of the Indian Parliament from 1994, which stated that both Jammu and Kashmir, as well as PoK, are indivisible parts of India.

Naqvi stressed that the resolution, adopted over two decades ago, continues to be a fundamental aspect of the country’s position on Kashmir. He pointed out the actions of the Modi administration in strengthening this position, especially during the delimitation process in Jammu and Kashmir, which allocated 24 seats for PoK in the state’s Legislative Assembly.

Naqvi also commended the political shift in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.

Describing the action as a historic milestone, he stated, “Article 370 was the greatest hindrance to the progress of Jammu and Kashmir. With its abolition, we are experiencing political stability, enhanced involvement in the democratic process, and considerable economic development.”

Another BJP MLA, Vikram Randhwa, emphasized that the vision of ‘Akhand Bharat’ — a unified India that includes territories currently under foreign occupation — is very much alive.

"The segment of Kashmir that remains under Pakistani administration has always belonged to us, and it always will," Randhwa asserted.

He further stated that reclaiming PoK would not pose a significant challenge, with the BJP confident that the region will return to India when the central government undertakes the necessary actions.

BJP MLA Ram Kadam reinforced this sentiment, voicing his steadfast support for the reclamation of PoK.

“That part of Kashmir is ours, and we will never forget it,” Kadam declared.

Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad, while welcoming EAM Jaishankar’s remarks on PoK, expressed concerns regarding the Chinese occupation of Indian territory in Ladakh.

"I would be very pleased if he stated this. The Congress party would be the happiest if the current government retrieves PoK. However, the government must also tackle the Chinese encroachment in Ladakh," Arshad commented.

"There are villages constructed by China within our territory in Ladakh, and we need to ensure that the same determination is applied to reclaim those areas as well," the Congress leader added.

In his speech at Chatham House in London, Jaishankar clarified the government's viewpoint on the Kashmir dispute, mentioning that the resolution process is already in motion.

"The initial step was the abrogation of Article 370, which has facilitated Kashmir's growth and integration with India. The second step involved restoring social justice and boosting economic activity, and the third step was conducting elections with an impressive voter turnout," Jaishankar elaborated.

He also reaffirmed India’s pledge to reclaim the segment of Kashmir under Pakistani control.

“The Kashmir issue will be settled once the 'stolen' part of the region is returned to India,” he stated.