SRINAGAR: Union Minister Jitendra Singh has labelled India’s Partition as the “greatest blunder of history,” asserting that the retrieval of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) remains the sole unresolved issue between India and Pakistan.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the minister made these remarks on Sunday while addressing a function organised in New Delhi to commemorate the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas. He stated that India’s national security doctrine has significantly transformed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, moving from a reactive stance to one characterised by preparedness and decisive responses to external aggression.
The minister highlighted that Kargil Vijay Diwas serves as a symbol of the Indian Armed Forces’ courage and the nation’s steadfast commitment to protecting its unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. He emphasised that the lessons learned from the 1999 Kargil conflict continue to hold relevance as India navigates evolving security challenges.
Singh elaborated that the events leading to the Kargil conflict could not be understood in isolation but were fundamentally rooted in the Partition. He reiterated his view that Partition was the “greatest blunder of history,” citing the immense human suffering, multiple wars between India and Pakistan, cross-border militancy, and the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits that resulted from it.
He further detailed the government’s approach, which includes a policy of zero tolerance towards militancy, strengthened border management, and a proactive security strategy that has enhanced India’s capacity to safeguard its territorial integrity. The minister pointed to the sustained peace in Jammu and Kashmir as a catalyst for rapid infrastructure development. He cited examples such as the railway connectivity to the Kashmir Valley, the Chenab rail bridge, the establishment of AIIMS institutions, and various irrigation projects, indicating that development is a critical driver for lasting stability in the region.
Singh also noted the strengthening of national security through India’s increasing self-reliance in defence manufacturing, evidenced by a rise in indigenous production and defence exports under the current administration. He expressed that the pace of development in Jammu and Kashmir has positively influenced populations across the Line of Control.
Recalling a parliamentary resolution from 1994, Singh reiterated that Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and that its retrieval remains the primary outstanding issue between the two nations. He concluded by urging the younger generation to draw inspiration from the bravery and sacrifices of the Kargil martyrs and to contribute towards building a stronger, more secure, and self-reliant India.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
