"One Day PoK Will Say 'Main Bharat Hoon'": Rajnath Singh

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh expressed confidence on Monday that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will eventually return to India without any aggressive action, noting that residents in the region are already demanding freedom from the current administration.

"PoK will become ours naturally. You must have heard the slogans and demands being made in PoK already," the Minister stated during his interaction with the Indian community while visiting Morocco.

Singh mentioned that he had made similar remarks five years ago at an Indian Army event in Jammu and Kashmir.

"At a program in Kashmir Valley five years ago while addressing the Indian Army, I stated that we won't need to attack and capture PoK as it's already ours; the day will come when PoK itself will declare, 'Main bhi Bharat Hoon' (I am also India). That day is coming," the Defence Minister affirmed.

His comments follow allegations that the Central government had "missed an opportunity" to reclaim PoK during Operation Sindoor on May 7. Opposition leaders criticized the government for agreeing to a ceasefire despite India supposedly having an advantage after Operation Sindoor successfully countered Pakistani aircraft, claiming this was a missed chance to recapture the territory under Pakistani control.

The Defence Minister is currently on a two-day visit to Morocco, where he will inaugurate Tata Advanced Systems' new manufacturing facility for the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8 in Berrechid, marking the first Indian defence manufacturing plant in Africa.

This historic visit represents the first time an Indian Defence Minister has officially visited Morocco.

Singh praised the new facility as a significant milestone demonstrating the expanding global presence of India's defence industry.

During his visit, Mr. Singh will hold bilateral discussions with Moroccan Defence Minister Abdeltif Loudiyi.

India and Morocco are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation during Rajnath Singh's visit. This agreement will provide a formal framework to enhance bilateral defence engagement, including exchanges, training programs, and industrial partnerships. In recent years, Indian Navy vessels have regularly made port calls at Casablanca, and this new agreement aims to strengthen these connections further.