Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said Jammu and Kashmir would always be an integral part of India and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit-Baltistan were illegally occupied by Pakistan, while describing Article 370 as “an artificial barrier that stands removed”.
“Jammu and Kashmir will always be an integral part of India and the government is ensuring that the Union Territory, like the rest of the country, touches newer heights of progress. Article 370 was an artificial legal barrier. Its abrogation brought a new dawn of hope to the dreams and aspirations of the people, especially the youth,” said Mr. Singh, who was speaking on the occasion of ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ in Jammu.
He said Pakistan, after tasting defeats in direct wars of 1965 and 1971, adopted the path of proxy war.
