PoK Illegally Occupied, Controlled by Terrorists: Army Chief Rawat

Army Chief Bipin Rawat said attempts are being made by Pakistan to disrupt normalcy in Kashmir.

Army chief Bipin Rawat. 

(Photo: PTI)

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Friday, 25 October, said that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is controlled by terrorists and sought to link it to Islamabad's strident criticism of India's decision to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

“...The territory which has been illegally occupied by Pakistan is not controlled by the Pakistani establishment, it is controlled by terrorists. PoK is actually a terrorist controlled part of Pakistan.”

Army Chief Bipin Rawat, as quoted by ANI

In an address to a select gathering, General Rawat also said Gilgit-Baltistan and PoK have been under illegal occupation of Pakistan.

“When we say Jammu and Kashmir, the complete state of Jammu and Kashmir includes PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan. Therefore PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan become an occupied territory – a territory which has been illegally occupied by our western neighbour,” he reportedly said.

He said attempts are being made by Pakistan to disrupt normalcy in Kashmir.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)