Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on a two-day visit to Morocco, inaugurated Tata Advanced Systems’ first defence plant in Africa to manufacture WhAP 8x8 vehicles. He also reiterated India’s stand on PoK, expressing confidence that the region will reunite with India without aggression as locals demand freedom from Pakistan.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addresses members of the Indian community, in Rabat, Morocco. Pic/PTI
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is on a two-day visit to Morocco. The Defence Minister of India in Morocco will be unveiling Tata Advanced Systems Maroc’s new manufacturing facility for the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8 at Berrechid. The Union Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh, on Monday expressed confidence in India getting back control of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) without taking any aggressive steps.
As reported by news agency ANI, Rajnath Singh further said that people in the region itself have been demanding freedom from the current administration in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
While addressing the Indian community in PoK, Rajnath Singh asserted, "PoK will be ours on its own. Demands have started being made in PoK; you must have heard the sloganeering," as per ANI.
Rajnath Singh further added that he had repeated the same five years ago while addressing an Indian Army programme in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Defence Minister further stated, "I was addressing the Indian Army at a program in the Kashmir Valley five years ago. Programme 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," as cited by news agency ANI.
Rajnath Singh’s remarks come after it was alleged that the Central government had "missed the chance" to capture PoK during Operation Sindoor on May 7.
Soon after the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was announced, multiple leaders of various opposition parties criticised the Central government for agreeing to a 'ceasefire' despite India having the upper hand after Operation Sindoor downed multiple Pakistani jets. Opposition leaders further claimed that there was a chance to capture the Pakistani-occupied territory.
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.
Rajnath Singh’s visit to Morocco marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Morocco.
The Defence Minister during his visit hailed the new facility in Morocco as an important milestone that reflects the growing global footprint of India's defence industry.
As reported by news agency ANI, Rajnath Singh will also hold a bilateral meeting with his Moroccan counterpart, Abdeltif Loudiyi, later during his visit.
India and Morocco are also expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Defence during Rajnath Singh's visit. The memorandum will provide an institutional framework to expand and deepen bilateral defence engagement, including exchanges, training, and industrial linkages. Indian Navy ships have been making regular port calls at Casablanca in recent years, and this agreement will further consolidate such ties, reported ANI.
(With inputs from ANI)
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