Leh: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday visited Leh to attend a programme by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Singh gave a stern message to Pakistan, saying Kashmir has always been India’s territory and will remain so. Rajnath Singh had come to Leh first time post the abrogation of Article 370.
“I want to ask Pakistan when had Kashmir belonged to it. Kashmir was always a part of India,” Rajnath said in Leh. “Kashmir has always been with us and will remain so,” he reiterated.
He added that Pakistan should focus on addressing human rights violations and atrocities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Stating that India accepted Pakistan’s creation as a separate country and respects it, the Defence Minister categorically stated that Kashmir is India’s internal matter and that ” Pakistan has no locus standi on Kashmir”.
Explaining why bilateral dialogue was not possible, the minister said, “How can we talk to Pakistan when it keeps trying to destabilise India using terrorism”. Rajnath Singh further said, “The truth is that PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan are illegally occupied by Pakistan.”
Earlier, the defence minister inaugurated the 26th ‘Kisan-Jawan Vigyan Mela’ in Leh.
