Akhnoor (J&K), Jan 14: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said Jammu and Kashmir remains incomplete without Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and issued a stern warning to Pakistan regarding the presence of terrorist training camps in the region.
Speaking at the 9th Armed Forces Veterans' Day event, he emphasized, "Jammu and Kashmir is incomplete without PoK. PoK is essentially foreign territory for Pakistan... The land of PoK is being used to fuel terrorism, with terrorist training camps operating there. Pakistan must dismantle these camps, or else it will face consequences."
Rajnath Singh also referred to the 1965 India-Pakistan war, highlighting the opportunity that the Lal Bahadur Shastri government had to end cross-border terrorism by converting the tactical advantage India had gained into a strategic one.
"The war was fought in Akhnoor in 1965, and India successfully thwarted Pakistan's military efforts. Since then, Pakistan has been promoting illegal infiltration and terrorism. Cross-border terrorism could have been eradicated in 1965, but the government at the time failed to turn the tactical advantage into a strategic one," he remarked.
He also recognized the sacrifices made by Muslim soldiers in India’s fight against terrorism, noting that over 80% of terrorists infiltrating India are from Pakistan. He emphasized that one of the central government's top priorities is to bridge the gap between Kashmir and the rest of the country, with steps being taken in this direction, particularly by Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah.
In his address, Omar Abdullah expressed deep gratitude toward veterans, acknowledging their sacrifices for the country. "You are the ones who gave everything, who didn’t think about your own futures, ready to sacrifice for the nation’s protection. Now, it is our duty to serve you," he said. He also pledged to ensure that the benefits and reservations for veterans are fully utilized and that financial support is provided without hindrance. "I am proud to say that Satish Sharma, the son of a retired soldier, is part of my Cabinet, and together we are committed to serving you," he added.
Armed Forces Veterans' Day is observed annually on January 14 to honor Field Marshal KM Cariappa, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces, who retired on this day in 1953. The day, first celebrated in 2016, has since become an annual occasion to pay tribute to ex-servicemen through events like this one.
