Kashmir Issue Solved When Pakistan Returns Stolen Part To India: EAM Jaishankar In London

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday hailed the BJP government's efforts in solving the Jammu and Kashmir issue sayinhg the dispute will end once the "stolen part" is returned to India by Pakistan.

EAM On Jammu and Kashmir

During a session titled India's rise and role in the world' at the Chatham House think tank in London on Wednesday evening, he responded to a question from the audience on the Kashmir issue. He is on a two-day official visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland from March 4 to 9 to strengthen India's ties with both countries.

"In Kashmir, we have done a good job solving most of it. I think removing Article 370 was one step. Then, restoring growth, economic activity and social justice in Kashmir was step number two. Holding elections, which were done with a very high turnout, was step number three. I think the part we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir, which is on the illegal Pakistani occupation. When that's done, I assure you, Kashmir solved," PTI quoted S Jaishankar as saying.

India and Pakistan has been with a territorial conflict over the Kashmir region since independence in 1947 and had three wars along with several armed skirmishes. New Delhi has repeatedly said that the dispute region is integral part of the country. The relationship strained further on 5 August 2019, afte rthe Modi government revoked nearly all of Article 370 of the Indian constitution, which granted special privileges to the people of Jammu and Kashmir state.

India-US Ties

The External affairs minister S Jaishankar also stated that the US is heading towards multipolarity that serves India's interests. He claimed that the two countries have agreed on the need for a bilateral trade agreement."We see a president and an administration which, in our parlance, is moving towards multipolarity and that is something that suits India," he said.

The Union Minister said, "From President Trump's perspective, the one big shared enterprise that we have is the Quad, which is an understanding where everybody pays their fair share... There are no free riders involved. So that's a good model which works."

Meawhile, pro-Khalistan protestors staged a demonstration outside the venue where S Jaishankar participated in a discussion held by Chatham House. He protestors held flags and shouted slogans against India.