NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday hit out at Pakistan for using PoK land for terror training camps and said that the neighbouring nation was “making all efforts to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir.” He further criticised PoK PM Chaudhry Anwarul Haq over his anti-India remarks.
“Jammu and Kashmir is incomplete without PoK. PoK is nothing more than a foreign territory for Pakistan… PoK’s land is being used to run the business of terrorism. Terrorist training camps are being run in PoK… Pakistan will have to destroy them otherwise,” he said at the 9th Armed Forces Veterans’ Day event.
“Pakistan has been promoting illegal infiltration and terrorism since 1965…Our Muslim brothers have sacrificed their lives fighting against terrorism…Even today more than 80% of the terrorists entering India are from Pakistan…Cross-border terrorism would have ended in 1965 itself, but the then central government was unable to convert the tactical advantage gained in the war into a strategic advantage,” he added.
Last week, PoK PM Chaudhry Anwarul Haq had accused India of plotting terrorist activities in the region, claiming it had funded efforts to incite unrest during recent protests.
“If you manage to peacefully send your citizens back through negotiations, avoiding bloodshed that could have played into the enemy’s hands, your parliamentary system becomes one hundred per cent stronger,” Dawn quoted him saying.
He said that the efforts were being made to bridge the gap between Centre and J&K. “The top priority of our government is to bridge whatever gap exists between Kashmir and the rest of the country. Steps are being taken in this direction by J&K CM Omar Abdullah…The Veterans Day celebrations in Akhnoor prove that Akhnoor has the same place in our hearts as Delhi,” he said.
Armed Forces Veterans’ Day, observed annually on January 14, honors the contributions of Field Marshal KM Cariappa, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces, who retired on this day in 1953. First celebrated in 2016, the day has since been marked every year with interactive events dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the service of ex-servicemen.