EAM Jaishankar Discusses Kashmir Situation and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir at Chatham House
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar addressed the ongoing situation in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting the Indian government’s steps towards resolving issues in the region. Speaking at Chatham House in London, Jaishankar outlined key measures taken by India, including the abrogation of Article 370, the restoration of economic growth, social justice, and the successful conduct of elections in Jammu and Kashmir with significant voter turnout.
Jaishankar emphasized that the resolution of the Kashmir issue is nearly complete, with the exception of the part of Jammu and Kashmir illegally controlled by Pakistan. He pointed out that the remaining step towards full resolution is the return of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) to India.
In response to a question regarding the Kashmir situation, Jaishankar stated: “In Kashmir, we have done, I think, a good job solving most of it. I think, removing Article 370 was one step number one. Then, restoring growth and economic activity and social justice in Kashmir was step number two, followed by holding elections, which saw a very high turnout, as step number three. The part we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir, which is under illegal Pakistani occupation. When that’s done, I assure you, Kashmir will be solved.”
Jaishankar’s remarks echo earlier statements he made on the issue. In May 2024, he affirmed that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is an integral part of India, a stance consistently supported by all political parties in the country. He said, “There is a Parliament resolution…every political party of this country is committed to ensuring that POK, which is a part of India, returns to India. That is our national commitment.”
Jaishankar also referenced the significant impact of the scrapping of Article 370 in August 2019, which he claimed brought the issue of POK back into public discourse. He explained, “Because we have finally taken the right decision on Article 370, the POK issue has come to the forefront of people’s thinking. The first prerequisite for something happening is that it should be in your thoughts.”
Further elaborating on the issue during a 2024 event in Odisha, Jaishankar highlighted the historical context, saying, “POK has never been out of this country. It is part of this country. There is a resolution of the Indian Parliament that POK is very much a part of India.” He also addressed the initial years of independence when India did not press Pakistan to vacate the region, which led to the continued “sorry state of affairs.” Jaishankar metaphorically described the situation, stating, “When you have someone who is not a responsible custodian of the house, bahar se koi chori kar leta hai (someone steals from outside).”
The External Affairs Minister concluded by asserting that the issue of POK had been largely forgotten by the people but was now being reinvigorated in the national consciousness.
Jaishankar’s comments reaffirm India’s firm stance on POK and the broader Kashmir issue, reiterating that the restoration of the region to India remains a central goal for the country.
