Ministry of External Affairs responds to Pakistan Army Chief comments on Kashmir, emphasizing that the view of Kashmir being a “jugular vein” is baseless
Our Bureau
New Delhi / Islamabad
In a provocative move on Wednesday, the Pakistani army chief, General Asim Munir, during his address at the Convention for Overseas Pakistanis event, said that India and Pakistan differ in every conceivable aspect, including religions, customs, traditions, thoughts and ambitions, reinforcing the Two-Nation Theory that led to Pakistan’s creation in 1947.
Munir invoked the ‘two-nation theory’, which was responsible for the creation of Pakistan back in 1947 and asked the Pakistan citizens to teach their children the difference between Hindus and Muslims, which was the basis for the creation of the Islamic Republic.
During his address at the Convention for Overseas Pakistanis event on Wednesday, Pakistan General Asim Munir had said that the forefathers of Pakistan have taught that they are different from “Hindus” in every possible aspect, due to which the foundation of the two-nation theory was laid.
A day later, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday responded to Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir’s comments on Kashmir, emphasizing that the view of Kashmir being a “jugular vein” is baseless.
While addressing a press briefing on Thursday in New Delhi, on the comments by Pakistan Army chief terming Kashmir as a jugular vein, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein? This is a union territory of India. It’s only relationship with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally occupied territories by that country…”
He further said that the reputation of Pakistan as the epicenter of global terrorism will not decrease. “Pakistan may try very hard, but its reputation as the epicenter of global terrorism will not diminish. The extradition of Rana serves as a reminder to Pakistan that it needs to bring to justice other perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks, whom it continues to shield,” Jaiswal said.
Meanwhile, foreign affairs expert Robinder Sachdev strongly criticized Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir’s recent remarks on the two-nation theory, accusing the Pakistani military leadership of having a rigid mentality and said that they are emotionally pressuring overseas Pakistanis.
Sachdev said, “The comments made by the Pakistani Army Chief indicate that he lives in a dreamland. He was trying to emotionally pressurize overseas Pakistanis so they would contribute more to Pakistan. This indicates the Army Chief’s backwards and rigid mentality, and quashes any hope that Pakistan will change its ways. It also indicates that the feeling of staying adamant about the Kashmir issue seeped deep in their veins, and that Pakistan will never improve.”
He added, “India’s stance has become quite clear in the last few years that Pakistan will have to return the Pakistan-occupied areas to us. India may not need to take any steps in this matter because Pakistan has many issues that will break the country from within, and the people of these areas will want to be a part of India. The Army Chief’s statements depict that Pakistan is intoxicated with a hatred for India.”
Also, slamming the Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir over his ‘two-nation theory’ remarks, BJP leader Kavinder Gupta said that the top army commander of the neighboring country seems to be an “idle” person, and this trait reflects in his recent comments.
“The Army Chief seems to be idle; that is why he is talking about matters of religion… The whole world is aware of the type of attacks Pakistan lashed out at India and how it tried to carry out religious conversions…”, Kavinder Gupta said.
It is worth noting that recently a bipartisan bill introduced in the US Congress seeking to impose sanctions on General Asim Munir for his alleged role in persecuting political opponents, including former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The legislation, titled the “Pakistan Democracy Act,” was introduced by Reps. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) and calls for targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
The bill mandates that within 180 days, the US government identify individuals involved in political persecution in Pakistan and impose penalties, including visa bans and restrictions on entry into the United States. It explicitly accuses Munir of “knowingly engaging in the wrongful persecution and imprisonment of political opponents” and urges similar action against others complicit in the crackdown.
Wilson has been vocal about his stance on Khan’s imprisonment, which he describes as politically motivated. “Mr. Khan is clearly a political prisoner,” Wilson told The Hill, reiterating that he had urged the US administration to pressure Pakistan’s military leadership through visa bans and other means to restore democracy and secure Khan’s release. The bill allows for the removal of sanctions if Pakistan ends military rule, restores civilian-led democracy, and releases all detained political figures.
