External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent statement at Chatham House in London that the Kashmir issue is more or less resolved, with the only remaining task being for Pakistan to return the occupied territory, was nothing more than a reiteration of India’s long-standing position.
New Delhi has never accepted the illegal manner in which Pakistan-backed tribal invaders stormed into Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, capturing parts of the region. The fate of Kashmir was sealed when Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession, making the princely state an integral part of India.
However, history took a tragic turn when, under the cover of darkness and political confusion, hordes of tribals, encouraged by Pakistan, launched an assault on Kashmir. Their objective was to march into Srinagar and seize control before Indian forces could intervene. The swift action of the Indian armed forces thwarted their plans, securing the Srinagar airport and preventing a complete takeover.
In their rampage, the invading forces looted a Catholic hospital in Baramulla, raping and murdering a nun and other staff members. Meanwhile, they managed to occupy Muzaffarabad and strengthen their hold over Gilgit, creating what is now known as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
For decades, India has symbolically reserved seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly for representatives from PoK, reinforcing its claim over the region. The reality, however, is that PoK remains under Pakistan’s illegal occupation, with its people yearning to reunite with their brethren across the Line of Control.
This is the unfinished agenda of Partition, one that India cannot afford to ignore. Jaishankar rightfully pointed out India’s achievements in Kashmir. The revocation of Article 370, which stood in the way of full integration with the Indian Union, was a significant step. Economic development, as evident from the tourism boom and railway expansion, has transformed the region.
The successful conduct of elections, with a record voter turnout, is another testament to the restoration of normalcy. These developments prove that Jammu and Kashmir is as much a part of India as any other state. That said, his argument would have been even stronger had he announced a timeline for reversing the bifurcation of J&K into two Union Territories.
The division was never a demand of the ruling party but a temporary measure to handle the situation following the revocation of Article 370. The logical next step is to restore J&K as a full-fledged state.
The final chapter of Kashmir’s integration remains incomplete as long as PoK remains under Pakistani control. Pakistan, unsurprisingly, has objected to Jaishankar’s remarks, citing outdated UN resolutions.
Much has changed since those resolutions were passed, and history cannot be frozen in time. The reality is clear: for the Kashmir issue to be truly resolved, PoK must return to where it rightfully belongs — in India.
