One day PoK will say ‘Main bhi Bharat hoon’: Rajnath Singh in Morocco | Watch

Defence minister Rajnath Singh

Defence minister Rajnath Singh has expressed confidence that India could regain control of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) peacefully, noting that people in the region are seeking liberation from the current administration.

"PoK will be ours on its own. Demands have started being made in PoK, you must have heard sloganeering,” he said during an interaction with the Indian community in Morocco.

Singh stated that he had repeated the same five years ago during an Indian Army programme in Jammu and Kashmir.

"I was addressing the Indian Army at a program in Kashmir Valley five years ago, I had then said that we will not need to attack and capture PoK, it is anyway ours; PoK itself will say, 'Main bhi Bharat Hoon'. That day will come," Singh added.

#WATCH | Rabat, Morocco: At the interaction with the Indian community in Morocco, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, "PoK will be ours on its own. Demands have started being made in PoK, you must have heard sloganeering. I was addressing the Indian Army at a program in Kashmir… pic.twitter.com/IYtk4pSn50

— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2025

These remarks come amid claims that the central government failed to seize PoK during Operation Sindoor on May 7. Opposition leaders contended that agreeing to a ceasefire, even after India had gained the upper hand by shooting down multiple Pakistani jets, forfeited the chance to capture the territory.

Operation Sindoor

The defence minister, during his interaction, also spoke about the possibility of second and third phase of Operation Sindoor. He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments and said that the military operation against terrorism can be "started again."

"Whether part 2 remains to be done or part 3, we can't say. It depends on their (Pakistan's) conduct. If they indulge in terrorist activities, they would get a reply," he said.

"PM too has said that this is just a pause. Operation Sindoor has only been halted...It can be started again," he added.

#WATCH | #OperationSindoor | Rabat, Morocco: At the interaction with the Indian community in Morocco, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, "Whether part 2 remains to be done or part 3, we can't say. It depends on their (Pakistan's) conduct. If they indulge in terrorist… pic.twitter.com/aUzNklpTfA

— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2025

Rajnath Singh Morocco visit

The defence minister is on a two-day visit to Morocco where he is set to inaugurate the Tata Advanced Systems' new manufacturing facility for the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8 at Berrechid, making it the first-ever Indian defence manufacturing plant in Africa.

This is the first-ever visit by an Indian defence minister to Morocco.