India Rejects Pakistan Army Chief’s Kashmir Remark
New Delhi: India has firmly dismissed the recent statement by Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, who referred to Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein.” In a strong rebuttal, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) underlined that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, and that Pakistan’s only relevant connection to the region is to vacate the territories it illegally occupies.
“How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein?” questioned MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, emphasizing that Kashmir’s association with Pakistan lies solely in the context of Pakistan’s illegal occupation of certain regions.
General Munir, while addressing overseas Pakistanis, not only invoked the two-nation theory but also called upon the diaspora to uphold Pakistan’s “superior ideology and culture.” He reiterated Islamabad’s rigid stance on Kashmir, describing it as an inseparable part of Pakistan’s identity and pledging continued support for what he termed the “heroic struggle” of the Kashmiri people.
The comments, seen as highly provocative, highlight the Pakistani military’s deep-rooted role in shaping foreign policy and underscore a continued refusal to soften its Kashmir narrative. They also reinforce the ideological divide between the two nations, rooted in religion and historical grievances.
India’s response, however, reiterates its non-negotiable position on Jammu and Kashmir and calls attention to Pakistan’s misuse of occupied territories.
Such remarks are expected to further strain already tense ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
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