Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday, 25 September reminded Islamabad about the breakup of Pakistan and the creation of Bangladesh, warning that something similar could happen in PoK if it did not mend its ways.
Do not repeat the “mistake”, he said.
“Pakistan broke up in 1971 – Pakistan and Bangladesh were formed. I am saying do not repeat the mistake, or else understand clearly what will happen to PoK,” he said.
Singh made the reference to the 1971 War, fought when Indira Gandhi was prime minister, during an event at Dhankya village near Jaipur in Rajasthan, in the memory of RSS ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay.
‘Took Precaution in Carrying out Balakot Strikes, But Things May Change’
The defence minister also said that India took "great precaution" and did not attack Pakistan or its army while carrying out strikes on a terror camp in Balakot but things may change if the neighbouring country does not mend its ways.
He said Pakistan has not been able to “digest” the withdrawal of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, but ultimately the neighbouring country will have to accept it.
He said that 24 seats were left vacant in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly for PoK and India does not accept Pakistan's occupation of the territory.
Paying tribute to Upadhyay, Singh said he and another party ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee opposed Article 370 and the special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and struggled to end it.
"This promise to scrap Article 370 was included in BJP's election manifestos. With abrogation of Article 370 BJP has proved that there is no difference in the words and deeds of the party," he said.
Even Muslims in the country have welcomed abrogation of Article 370, he added.
The defence minister also visited a memorial of Upadhyay at Dhanakya where he spent eight years of his childhood.
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