SRINAGAR: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday described India’s Partition as the “greatest blunder of history” and asserted that the retrieval of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) remains the only unresolved issue between India and Pakistan.
Addressing a function organised to commemorate the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas in New Delhi, Singh said India’s national security doctrine has undergone a decisive transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, shifting from a reactive approach to one marked by preparedness and firm responses to external aggression.
The minister said Kargil Vijay Diwas symbolises the courage of the Indian Armed Forces and the country’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding its unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said the lessons of the 1999 Kargil conflict remain relevant as India continues to face evolving security challenges.
Tracing the origins of the conflict, Singh said the events of Kargil could not be viewed in isolation but were rooted in the Partition, which he termed “the greatest blunder of history”. He said Partition led to immense human suffering, multiple wars between India and Pakistan, cross-border terrorism and the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits.
He said the government had adopted a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism, strengthened border management and replaced a reactive security doctrine with a proactive strategy, significantly enhancing India’s ability to protect its territorial integrity.
Highlighting developments in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said sustained peace has enabled rapid infrastructure growth, citing railway connectivity to the Kashmir Valley, the Chenab rail bridge, AIIMS institutions and irrigation projects as examples. He added that development had become a key driver of lasting stability in the region.
The minister also said India’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing had strengthened national security, noting increased indigenous production and defence exports under the current government.
Referring to Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said the pace of development in Jammu and Kashmir had inspired people living across the Line of Control. Recalling Parliament’s 1994 resolution, he reiterated that PoJK is an integral part of India and said its retrieval remains the only outstanding issue between the two countries.
Singh urged the younger generation to draw inspiration from the courage and sacrifice of the Kargil martyrs and work towards building a stronger, secure and self-reliant India.
