Half a decade after revoking Article 370 of its constitution and asserting full control over Jammu and Kashmir, India is now setting its sights on reclaiming Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
During an interview with the UK-based think tank Chatham House on Wednesday (March 5), Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar stated that the Indian government is progressing systematically toward this objective.
"We are advancing step by step," Jaishankar said in response to a question about the Kashmir issue. "We have already accomplished significant milestones. The first step was the abrogation of Article 370. The second step focused on boosting Jammu and Kashmir's development, economic activities, and social justice. In the third step, we held legislative elections, which saw high voter turnout."
He further elaborated, "Now, we are moving towards the fourth step—reclaiming the part of Jammu and Kashmir that was unlawfully taken. To put it clearly, we aim to integrate the region currently under Pakistan's illegal occupation into India's official map."
Jaishankar emphasized, "If we successfully accomplish this, the Kashmir issue will cease to exist. This will be the final resolution to the long-standing conflict."
The Kashmir dispute dates back to 1947 when India and Pakistan gained independence from British colonial rule. At the time, the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, ruled by Maharaja Hari Singh, was given the choice to join either country or remain independent. Hari Singh initially opted for independence.
However, soon after Pakistan launched a military offensive to seize Jammu and Kashmir, advancing dangerously close to its capital, Srinagar. In response, Maharaja Hari Singh formally signed an instrument of accession, integrating the state into India.
Following this, the Indian military launched a counteroffensive, pushing back Pakistani forces. Since then, Jammu and Kashmir's territory has been divided—43% under Indian control, 37% under Pakistani control, and the remaining 20% controlled by China, which governs the Siachen region.
After Jammu and Kashmir joined India, then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru granted it special autonomous status under Article 370. This provision restricted the Indian central government from intervening in the region's internal affairs and prohibited non-residents from acquiring land there.
On August 5, 2019, the ruling BJP government revoked Article 370 through a parliamentary vote, removing Jammu and Kashmir's special status.
