People of PoK our own, will return voluntarily: Rajnath

People of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) are part of India's "own family" and the day is not far when they will return to the Indian mainstream by listening to their inner voice, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said today.

Laying out India's policy approach towards Pakistan, he said New Delhi had "redesigned and redefined" its strategy and response to terrorism and that possible dialogue with Islamabad would be only on terrorism and PoK.

In an address at the CII Business Summit, the minister appeared to be attempting to reach out to people of PoK, saying "I believe that the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) are our own, part of our family”.

India is committed to the resolution of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' (One India, Best India), and we have full faith that those of our brothers who are geographically and politically separated from us today, will also return to the mainstream of India someday or the other with self-respect, listening to their voice of soul, the minister added.

On PoK, Singh said the "people there feel a deep connection with India, there are only a few who have been misled". He stressed the unification of the PoK with India depended on "the cultural, social and economic prosperity of this country".

He cited history to say situation of our brothers and sisters living in PoK was similar to that of Shakti Singh, the younger brother of brave warrior Maharana Pratap. "Even after separation, the confidence and faith of the elder brother towards his younger brother remains intact," Singh said.

"India always talks about connecting hearts, and we believe that by walking on the path of love, unity and truth, the day is not far when our own part, PoK, will return and say, I am India, I have returned," he said.