New Delhi/IBNS: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday made a bold claim that people in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir will soon voluntarily reunite with India.

Speaking at the CII Business Summit, Singh claimed people of PoK "feel a deep connection with India" and it's a matter of time for their reunification.

The Defence Minister said, "Most of the people in PoK feel a deep connection with India, there are only a few who have been misled. The situation of our brothers living in PoK is similar to that of the brave warrior Maharana Pratap's younger brother Shakti Singh..."

"India always talks about connecting hearts, and we believe that by following 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 come back'. Integration of PoK with India depends on the cultural, social and economic prosperity of this country..."

The Defence Minister asserted that India has redesigned and redefined its strategy and response against terrorism, and Pakistan has realised that running the business of terrorism is not cost-effective, rather it may have to pay a heavy price.

He added that India has recalibrated its engagement and scope of dialogue with Pakistan, and now talks will only be held on terrorism and PoK.

He emphasised that the government has given priority to policy clarity, indigenisation, economic resilience and strategic autonomy, and the success of these efforts can be ensured only when all the stakeholders, including innovators, entrepreneurs and manufacturers become strong partners in this national mission.

He exhorted the Indian industry to focus on national interests, more than company interests. "If securing company interests is your karma, safeguarding national interests is your dharma," he said.

Sharing his views on the theme of the summit ‘Building Trust and India First’, Singh stated that it is a matter of great pride that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has become the fourth largest economy.

"It is not just a matter of the economy growing in size; it is also about the world’s ever-increasing trust in India and its trust in itself. Today, India is not just a consumer of defence technology, but has also become a producer and exporter. When the world approaches us for high-end defence systems, it is not just a market indication, it is a respect for our capability," he said.

Singh highlighted the important role being played by the defence sector in India’s growth journey by enumerating the feats achieved due to the initiatives taken by the Government in the last decade.

"10-11 years ago, our defence production was approx. Rs 43,000 crore. Today, it has crossed the record figure of Rs 1,46,000 crore, with a contribution of over Rs 32,000 crore by the private sector. Our defence exports, which were around Rs 600-700 crore 10 years ago, have surpassed a record figure of Rs 24,000 crore today.

"Our weapons, systems, sub-systems, components, and services are reaching around 100 countries. Over 16,000 MSMEs, associated with the defence sector, have become the backbone of the supply chain. These companies are not only strengthening our self-reliance journey, but are also providing employment to lakhs of people," he said.

Singh added that India is not only producing fighter aircraft and missile systems, it is also getting ready for New Age Warfare Technology.

"We are continuously making headway even in frontier technologies. Our progress in the field of Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Defence, Unmanned Systems, and Space-Based Security is being recognised on the global stage. India has the potential to become a development hub for engineering, high precision manufacturing and future technologies," he said.

Dubbing the Indian industry as the carrier of the collective aspirations of the nation, Singh said that only the common efforts and synergy of the Government and the Industry can make India a developed nation by 2047.

He stressed that, in the current time, the strength of a nation is not evaluated just by its economic index like GDP, foreign investment or export figures, it also depends on the confidence a country can inspire in its citizens and the global community.

"Trust lasts only when a country has the confidence that it can protect its geopolitical interests, ensure the safety of its citizens, and remain stable in the face of future uncertainties. The morale of the nation remains high only when it knows that its today is secure, and tomorrow is safe," he added.