People Living In PoK Comparing Themselves To Those Living In J&K: Jaishankar

shankhyaneel sarkar shankhyaneel sarkar | 05-15 16:00

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that the analysis of the situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is complex but residents there must compare themselves to those living in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, referring to the steps taken by the government to develop the Kashmir region.

“There is a ferment happening in PoK, you can see it on social media or television. The analysis of it is very complex but definitely, I have no doubt in my own mind that someone living in PoK is comparing their situation with someone actually living in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that how is it that people today are actually progressing there,” Jaishankar said.

আজকের আনন্দসন্ধ্যায় আমার বই 'Why Bharat Matters'-এর বাংলা অনুবাদ প্রকাশ করতে পেরে আমি ধন্য। সমগ্র বিশ্বের প্রেক্ষাপটে অপূরণীয় অবদান,শক্তিশালী প্রভাব ও পরিবর্তনের প্রেক্ষাপটে বিশ্ববন্ধু ভারত অতন্ত্য গুরুত্বপূর্ণ। ভারতের ক্রমবর্ধমান প্রতিভার উন্মেষ,, বৃহত্তর উৎপাদনের দক্ষতা এবং… https://t.co/EYYosSyBPn

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) May 14, 2024

The external affairs minister made the remarks in Kolkata at an event organised to release the Bangla edition of his book Why Bharat Matters.

He said that people there are now feeling that they have been occupied and have been mistreated.

“They know that sense of being under occupation, of being discriminated, of being treated badly, clearly that any such comparison would be preying on their minds,” Jaishankar further added.

A civil unrest has been going on in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as residents there alleged discrimination and mistreatment at the hands of Pakistani law enforcement and the government.

The civil unrest was triggered when Pakistan police tried to clamp down on a protests under the banner of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) which was seeking the provision of electricity as per hydropower generation cost in the region, subsidised wheat flour and an end to the privileges of the elite class.

Clashes broke out between the resident and the police personnel when the latter tried to stop a rally for Muzaffarabad via Kotli and Poonch districts.

One police officer was killed and more than 100 people, mostly policemen, injured in violent clashes between security forces and agitating protesters. Some protesters also demanded a merger with India.

Jaishankar in Kolkata said PoK is an inseparable part of India and there is no question of a ‘merger’. “I don’t know what you mean by merge because it has been India, it will always be,” Jaishankar said.

US Chabahar Port Sanction Threat and LS Poll Criticism

The external affairs minister also urged parties to not take a ‘narrow view’ while discussing the India-Iran Chabahar Port Deal. “I think it’s a question of communicating, convincing and getting people to understand that this is actually for everyone’s benefit. I don’t think people should take a narrow view of it,” Jaishankar said.

“f you look at the US’ own attitude towards the port in Chabahar, the US has been appreciative of the fact that Chabahar has a larger relevance…we will work at it,” he said.

The US warned of sanctions and said anyone doing business with Iran must be wary of the sanctions in place after Indian Ports Global Limited (IPGL) of India and the Port & Maritime Organisation (PMO) of Iran on Monday signed a long-term bilateral contract on Chabahar port operation.

The external affairs minister also brushed off criticism of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections by western media outlets and urged them not to give ‘gyan’.

“Countries which have to go to court to decide the result of their election are giving us gyan about how to conduct the election. This is the mind game that is happening in the world,” he said.

“Western media in some cases have openly endorsed candidates and political parties, they don’t hide their preference. They are very smart, somebody is doing this domination game for 300 years, they learn a lot,” he further added.

About the Author
Shankhyaneel Sarkar
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has o...Read More

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.


ALSO READ

Hyundai Motor India lists with record IPO, commits to Indian market with new tech and EV plans

As part of its effort to introduce clean mobility solutions for Indian buyers, Hyundai will launch f...

auto | 5 hours ago

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India plants over 7 lakh trees in Maharashtra for ecological restoration

Additionally, SAVWIPL has installed 18.5 MWp of rooftop solar power at its Chakan facility, which of...

auto | 6 hours ago

Mega Corporation launches Lendingo to enhance EV financing solutions

Mega Corporation on Monday announced the launch of a new division, Lendingo. Mega Corporation on Mon...

auto | 6 hours ago

GreenLine accelerates decarbonisation efforts with 1,000 LNG trucks by March 2025

The government in a recent draft policy proposed to convert a third of long-haul trucks into LNG pow...

auto | 6 hours ago

Remsons Industries acquires 51% stake in BEE Lighting to enhance automotive lighting solutions

Established in 2006, BEE Lighting specialises in automotive headlamps, rear lamps, and various exter...

auto | 6 hours ago

EV Recharge partners with ZEVO for mobile EV charging solutions

EV Recharge’s technology can charge vehicles from 0% to 80% in just 20 minutes, a significant improv...

auto | 6 hours ago