The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has attributed the recent protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to Islamabad’s systematic plundering of resources from the region. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Pakistan’s exploitative policies have deprived the local people of their rightful resources and benefits. The MEA reiterates that Jammu, Ladakh, and Kashmir are integral parts of India and will always remain so.
Union Defense Minister has highlighted the positive remarks made by a Pakistani leader on India’s growth, stating that even Pakistan recognizes India’s emergence as a powerful nation. The minister also highlighted India’s economic progress, stating that it is expected to rank third globally in terms of wealth by 2027.
In the high-stakes 2023 Lok Sabha election, Pakistan has emerged as a prominent topic in Indian leaders’ campaign speeches. Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, Michael Kugelman, observes that Prime Minister Modi’s recent comments on Pakistan are not surprising. Kugelman notes that since the Uri/Pathankot attacks following Modi’s 2015 visit to Lahore, he has maintained a tough stance on Pakistan and has shown no interest in engagement. Kugelman believes that while India is not interested in improving relations with Pakistan, it is also not keen on the situation worsening. India’s primary foreign policy concern is China, and it aims to keep tensions with Pakistan low to allocate more strategic attention to the China challenge.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed optimism that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will eventually merge with India. In an interview with PTI, Singh stated that the region’s economic progress and return to peace will lead the people of PoK to demand unification with India. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reiterated that PoK is an integral part of India, emphasizing a Parliament resolution to that effect. Meanwhile, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah cautioned that Pakistan also possesses nuclear weapons.
India has vehemently denounced Pakistan’s unfounded allegations at the United Nations, highlighting Pakistan’s dubious record on various fronts. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, strongly rebuked Pakistan’s UN envoy, Munir Akram, for his unwarranted comments on Kashmir, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, and the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, made during his address to the UN General Assembly meeting on ‘Culture of Peace.’
In 1974, an Indian student’s chance encounter with Pakistani soldiers at the Hussainiwala border led him to become a staunch advocate for cross-cultural exchange between the two nations.
Amidst Pakistan’s ongoing economic crisis, a prominent business leader has advised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reconsider relations with neighboring countries, particularly India. The suggestion was made during the premier’s visit to Karachi, with the business leader emphasizing the potential economic benefits of improved ties. Pakistan’s previous decision to downgrade relations with India in 2019 has been cited as a contributing factor to the country’s economic struggles, leading to an all-time high inflation rate and a reliance on the International Monetary Fund.
India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, recently addressed the ‘Foreign Policy The India Way: From Diffidence To Confidence’ forum in Hyderabad. He emphasized how India’s foreign policy has evolved from one of diffidence to confidence, highlighting the instrumental role played by the attacks on the Pakistani terror outfit.
