The Ministry of External Affairs hits back at Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir’s “jugular vein” comment on Kashmir, reaffirming India’s stand on Pakistan-occupied territories.
New Delhi, April 17:
India has issued a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir’s recent remarks calling Kashmir the “jugular vein” of Pakistan. Responding to the comment, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asserted that Pakistan’s only relationship with Kashmir is to vacate the illegally occupied territories.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing reporters in New Delhi, stated,
“How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein? Kashmir is a Union Territory of India. Its only relationship with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally occupied territories by that country.”
The response comes after General Munir, speaking at a gathering of overseas Pakistanis, claimed that Kashmir would always remain Pakistan’s jugular vein, and that the country would never forget it or abandon the “heroic struggle” of Kashmiris.
Also Read: Malaysia, China Sign 31 Major Agreements as Xi Jinping Declares ‘New Golden Era’ of Ties
During his speech, Munir also reinforced the two-nation theory, emphasizing ideological and cultural differences with India and portraying Pakistanis as part of a “superior ideology.”
India’s statement highlights its firm diplomatic stance on Jammu and Kashmir and counters what it sees as provocative rhetoric from Islamabad. It reiterates that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) remains under illegal occupation and that the priority remains its integration back into the Indian Union.
Also Read: Waqf Act: Supreme Court Flags 3 Major Issues in First Judicial Review
The Ministry refrained from further escalation but made it clear that India’s sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir is non-negotiable.
🏷️ Tags:
India-Pakistan relations, Kashmir, Pakistan Army, MEA India, Asim Munir Kashmir comment, PoK, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Indian foreign policy, two-nation theory, Randhir Jaiswal MEA, Indian response to Pakistan