 "Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses the Rising Bharat Summit in New Delhi on Wednesday. Image Courtesy: News18")
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) belongs to India.
In a conversation with Network 18 CEO Rahul Joshi at the News 18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025, Shah said that India not just has history on its side but also law.
In 1947, shortly after Independence, Pakistan invaded Jammu and Kashmir and trigerred the first war between India and Pakistan. Maharaja Hari Singh of J&K had not acceded to India and the invasion made him sign the Instrument of Accession. India intervened and saved most of the state from falling into Pakistan’s hands. However, Pakistan came to have control of parts of Kashmir, Gilgit, and Baltistan regions. Pakistan continues to illegally occupy these regions.
While the Indian intervention saved most of J&K (including present-day Ladakh) from falling into Pakistan’s hands, Pakistan came to have control of certain parts of the state that it continues to illegally occupy till date.
“India’s stand has been clear for years that Pakistan Occupied Kashmir is ours. It is not a claim but a belief supported by historic documents. Our legal case is also strong," said Shah at the summit.
In response to a question on when POK may be part of India again, Shah said that such details could understandably be not made public.
“As for when that [reunion] would happen, you will understand that I can neither share the date nor strategy on a public platform. The POK has been the duty of every Indian government,” said Shah.
On another question on Pakistan regarding the nation’s leadership’s allegation that India supports separatists in Balochistan, Shah said that it is not India but people’s discontent that is behind the situation.
“There is no question of India’s support. People there are dissatisfied with the rule in those regions. We cannot repair that,” said Shah.