India Defence News: In a strong message to Pakistan, Indian Army Chief General MM Narawane asserted on Saturday that his force was ready to take back the control of Pakistan occupied territory of the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir if directed by the civilian government. In the recent times, he is the third senior official who has reiterated India’s resolve to take back the disputed territory following the Modi government’s decision to scrap the special status of Jammu & Kashmir under the constitution. Referring to the Indian Parliament’s unanimous resolution that stated that the whole of Jammu & Kashmir was Indian territory, India’s new army chief said that his force was ready to seize back the control Pakistan Occupied Kashmir from Pakistan during his tenure.
The Indian Army will take appropriate action to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) if it receives orders to that effect, said Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane.
“The Parliament had adopted a resolution that the entire state of erstwhile J&K belongs to us. If the Parliament orders to reclaim PoK, appropriate actions will be initiated,” said General Narawane in his first press conference after assuming the charge early this month.
In response to a question whether the task will be fulfilled during his tenure as army chief, General MM Narawane quipped: “If this is the mandate then so be it.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party BJP has always advocated a muscular approach towards Pakistan and China, India’s two nuclear armed neighbors with which the country has fought four wars to protect its territorial integrity.
ALSO READ: Indian Army will train and equip to fight conventional wars of future: Army Chief
After winning the second term with a record majority, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government scrapped the special status of Jammu & Kashmir under the Article 370 of Indian Constitution. These special provisions, prohibited people from rest of the country to acquire land or get government jobs or settle in the state. The provisions were so stringent that if a woman from Kashmir married to someone outside the state then she also lost her right to have property in the state.
However, union home minister Amit Shah moved relevant resolutions in the Parliament that not only approved scrapping of these special provisions but also converted the state in two Union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, giving direct control of the state administration to the Centre.
ALSO READ: US-Iran tensions: Indian Navy intensifies maritime security operation in gulf region
Several top officials and leaders have since then openly talked about taking back the physical control of Pakistan occupied territory of Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir.
Former army chief General Bipin Rawat, who has been recently appointed India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), strongly advocated taking back the area under Pakistan’s illegal occupation. India’s external affairs minister S Jaishankar also asserted that entire Jammu & Kashmir was Indian territory and the country hoped to have physical control over the entire area one day.
ALSO READ: Firepower: DRDO tests upgraded version Pinaka missile system with nearly double the range
