Rajnath Singh: "People of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) Are Part of Our Own Family"

At the CII Annual Business Summit 2025, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reiterated India’s firm and uncompromising stance on Pakistan, sending a clear message of solidarity to the people living in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), whom he described as an integral part of India. Singh emphasized that India has recalibrated its diplomatic engagement with Pakistan, declaring that future dialogue, if any, will focus exclusively on terrorism and the issue of PoK. This marked a significant shift in India’s approach, underlining a hardened position that leaves little room for conventional bilateral talks beyond these critical concerns.

Singh expressed India’s long-term commitment to reunifying PoK with the rest of the country. He conveyed a heartfelt message, stating, “I believe that the people of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) are our own, part of our family.” He invoked the vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ (One India, Great India), asserting that India has full faith that those who are currently geographically and politically separated will eventually rejoin the mainstream of India.

The defence minister also used the platform to discuss India’s evolving doctrine on cross-border terrorism, which now reflects a more strategic and aggressive stance. He noted that Pakistan is “paying a heavy price” for its role in sponsoring terrorism. Singh highlighted that operating terrorism as a business is not sustainable for Pakistan, which has realized the cost implications of its actions. Consequently, India has redesigned its strategy and responses to counterterrorism to be more effective and resolute.

Singh pointed to the recent military operation named Operation Sindoor as a demonstration of India’s enhanced indigenous defence capabilities. This operation was launched as a decisive counter-terror strategy to combat terror groups sponsored by Pakistan. During Operation Sindoor, the Indian armed forces targeted and destroyed nine terror infrastructure sites across Pakistan and PoK, including critical facilities of terrorist organizations like Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke. Singh stated that this military success underlined the importance of the ‘Make in India’ campaign, showcasing that indigenous defence manufacturing is vital for both national security and economic prosperity.

He remarked that without these capabilities developed through Make in India, Indian forces would not have been able to take such effective and precise action against terrorism extending from Pakistan into PoK. Singh’s remarks connected the success of military operations directly to India’s domestic manufacturing and defence policies, highlighting the synergy between security and economic self-reliance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also echoed this hardline position previously, asserting that there would be no talks or trade with Pakistan except those related to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Modi’s approach is uncompromising, stressing a clear agenda centered on national security.

Furthermore, Singh warned that if Pakistan continues to support and export terrorism, it would face severe consequences, including India’s plan to block Pakistan’s share of river water, which would leave Pakistan “begging for every drop of water.” This statement signals India’s readiness to use water resources as leverage against Pakistan’s continued support for terrorism.

In summary, Operation Sindoor and the recent statements from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reinforce India’s toughened stance on Pakistan and its commitment to integrating PoK fully into India. The approach combines military readiness, diplomatic clarity, and economic self-reliance to address long-standing security challenges posed by terrorism and cross-border hostility.