Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will itself integrate with India in the near future, said Chief Imam of the All India Imam Organisation, Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, on Friday.
During a media interaction in Srinagar, Ilyasi said, "I want to say one thing to our neighbouring country from standing here in Kashmir: PoK, which is an integral part of India, will definitely re-join India because the people of PoK want to have a referendum there.”
He added that the ongoing development and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir are the major reasons that would ultimately lead PoK to break away from Pakistan and integrate with the Union of India.
“God willing, their ‘ghar wapsi’ will take place soon. It is the people there who want it. They are happy to see the development of Kashmir. Seeing how Kashmir is progressing today, PoK will be integrated with India very soon,” he said.
Ilyasi praised the transformation in the region after the abrogation of Article 370. “It has become a new Kashmir. Today’s Kashmir has become excellent; there is prosperity throughout, and tourism has increased. The people here are prosperous. There was a time when young people and children here used to throw stones. Today, they have pens in their hands. They are studying,” he said.
Referring to last year’s deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed, he urged people outside Jammu and Kashmir to visit the Valley to witness the calm and peaceful environment.
When asked about the ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East, he said wars benefit no one and expressed hope for peace. “Wars harm everyone; they are a sign of destruction. I have hopes from our country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, and God willing, he will mediate, and the war will end soon. There will be peace and tranquillity,” he added.
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