India has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir “was, is, and shall forever” remain an integral part of the country.
Jaishankar Slams Pakistan With ‘Stolen Part of Kashmir’ Jibe Over PoK
EAM S Jaishankar has said the Kashmir issue will be “solved” once the “stolen part of Kashmir which is under illegal Pakistani occupation” returns to India. “On Kashmir, actually we have done, I think, a good job, solving most of it. Removing Article 370 was step number one, restoring growth and economic activity and social justice in Kashmir was step number two, and holding elections with a very high turnout was step number three.” “I think the part we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir which is under illegal Pakistani occupation; when that is done, I assure you Kashmir will be solved.”
This is in line with what has been said about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) by BJP ministers in the past including Union Home Minister Amit Shah who, in May last year, said, “PoK is part of India and we will take it.” Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said, “We reject the remarks made by the Indian EAM on J&K during an event held at Chatham House, London on March 5… India should vacate the large territories of Jammu and Kashmir under its occupation from the last 77 years.”
Reciprocal Tariffs
Chatham House director Bronwen Maddox, said the Trump administration is moving towards multipolarity which suits India’s interests, and the two nations have agreed on the need for a bilateral trade pact. On the issue of reciprocal tariffs, Jaishankar said that Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is currently in Washington to discuss a bilateral trade pact, following discussions between PM Narendra Modi and President Trump at the White House last month.
FTA With UK
During the conversation, Jaishankar also expressed “cautious optimism” about the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations after his ministerial discussions over the past few days. He met Foreign Secretary David Lammy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London.
China Issue
On China, Jaishankar noted some positive movements since October 2024, including the opening of the Mount Kailash pilgrimage route in Tibet. “We have a very, very unique relationship with China as the only two billion plus populated countries in the world… We want a relationship where our interests are respected, sensitivities are recognised and works for both of us,” he said.
