India has strongly rejected recent remarks made by Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, who described Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein.” In a sharply worded response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed the claim, asserting that Pakistan has no legitimate connection with Jammu and Kashmir apart from vacating the territories it has illegally occupied.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the media, stating, “How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein? Jammu and Kashmir is a Union Territory of India. Its only relationship with Pakistan is for that country to vacate the areas it has illegally occupied.”
His response came in reaction to General Munir’s comments made during an address to overseas Pakistanis, where the Pakistani military chief underscored Kashmir’s significance to Islamabad and invoked the historical two-nation theory.
General Munir had told the audience that Pakistanis abroad serve as ambassadors of their homeland and should never forget their roots. He said, “Our forefathers believed that we were fundamentally different from Hindus in every aspect—religion, customs, traditions, thoughts, and ambitions. This belief formed the basis of the two-nation theory.”
Emphasising Kashmir, he added, “Our stance is absolutely clear—it was our jugular vein, it will remain our jugular vein, and we will never forget it. We stand with our Kashmiri brothers in their heroic struggle.”
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These comments, made at a time when Pakistan faces internal challenges, also reflect the army’s attempt to position itself as the guardian of national unity, Islamic identity, and sovereignty. By invoking the two-nation theory and linking it to Kashmir, General Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding narrative, suggesting that the issue remains central to the country's foreign policy and relations with India.
India, however, views such rhetoric as baseless and provocative. The Indian government continues to maintain that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir, including Pakistan-occupied territories, is an integral part of India.
The MEA’s strong rebuttal underscores New Delhi’s firm stance against any external interference in its internal affairs and signals that it will not tolerate attempts to distort historical and constitutional realities.
General Munir’s comments are likely to further strain already tense ties between the two neighbours. The MEA’s dismissal of Pakistan’s claims reflects a broader rejection of Islamabad’s narrative, especially as it continues to promote anti-India sentiment under the guise of solidarity with Kashmir.
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