EAM S Jaishankar reiterates PoK Part Of India, Says We Expect Physical Jurisdiction Soon

While addressing a press conference on 100 days of Modi government's second term, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that immediate neighbourhood remains a priority for India, with focus on generous and non-reciprocal policy aimed at increasing business and people-to-people contacts.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. (Image: ANI)

New Delhi: India on Tuesday made it clear that Pakistan remains to be a 'unique challenge' until the neighbouring country successfully addresses the issue of cross border terrorism and becomes a normal neighbour. While addressing a press conference on 100 days of Modi government's second term, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that immediate neighbourhood remains a priority for India, with focus on generous and non-reciprocal policy aimed at increasing business and people-to-people contacts. "We hope to build a better, stronger neighbourhood but recognising that we have a unique challenge from one neighbour, until the issue of cross border terrorism is successfully addressed and that neighbour becomes a normal neighbour that would remain a challenge," Jaishankar said while speaking to reporters in the national capital. He said certain issues like changes in Article 370 and cross-border terrorism have resonance in the foreign policy. "With regard to Pakistan, issue is not Article 370 but Pakistan’s terrorists. We must make the world realise. I always ask other people show me anywhere else in the world where any country conducts terrorism openly against its neighbor as part of what it considers its foreign policy," EAM added. Jaishankar also said that he will meet the Pakistani Foreign Minister on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly meet scheduled to take place on September 27. Maintaining India's stand on Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), EAM said that PoK is a part of India and we expect one day we will have physical jurisdiction over it. "Our position on PoK has always been and will always be very clear. PoK is part of India and we expect one day that we will have the physical jurisdiction over it," he said further. Jaishankar also spoke about the situation of minorities in Pakistan. "This is not a new thing. Here is a country which is waxing eloquent about other nations. Look at their treatment of minorities, I think minority numbers have come down dramatically in last 70 years to a point where they don't even put it out publicly anymore." "What is happening now in Sindh (Pakistan) is not the only thing which has happened in last 100 days. You also had cases of abduction of Sikh girls. I think if there is a human rights audit today in this part of the world I can pretty confidently assert who will come last in it," he added. Later in the press conference, Jaishankar also spoke about the India-United States relations and said that both the countries have come a long way and relations are in very good health. "India-US relations have come a long way, I assure you that relations are in very good health. As the relationship grows there will be issues. We have been talking to the US, my expectation is that the sharper edges will be addressed in the not too distant future," he said. Further speaking about PM Narendra Modi Houstan visit on September 22 where he will address more than 50,000 Indian-Americans from across the US, Jaishankar said, "I regard this as a great achievement of Indian-American community (PM's Houston event). If today there is an event of this size&you have President Trump coming there, it shows where that community has reached, how it is regarded in US,the respect it commands there. Regarding President Trump's presence there (PM's Houston event), EAM said that it is a matter of great honour that he has chosen to come there, to accept the invitation from the community to be there. Jaishankar also noted that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his second term with a visit to Maldives, followed by Sri Lanka and then Bhutan.