Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: India has sharply reacted to Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir’s recent provocative statements on Kashmir and Hindus, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asserting that Pakistan must vacate the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which is an integral part of India.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed a press briefing on Thursday, slamming Munir’s comments that described Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and emphasized the two-nation theory as the ideological foundation of Pakistan’s creation. Jaiswal countered by saying, “How can a foreign territory be the jugular vein? Jammu and Kashmir is a Union Territory of India. The only connection it has with Pakistan is that Islamabad must vacate the parts it illegally occupies.”
Asim Munir, in his controversial speech abroad, had claimed that Muslims and Hindus are fundamentally different in every aspect of life — from religion to customs, thoughts, and aspirations — and this was the reason behind the Partition. He further equated Kashmir’s importance to Pakistan as that of a jugular vein to the human body, a statement that has now drawn a strong diplomatic rebuttal from India.
Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that Pakistan’s obsession with Kashmir cannot alter the ground reality that the region is a sovereign part of India. “Pakistan should stop dreaming. It has no claim whatsoever over Kashmir,” Jaiswal said. He further noted that India has consistently rejected such statements, including at international forums such as the United Nations.
Turning attention to PoK, Jaiswal reiterated India’s long-standing demand that Pakistan must end its illegal occupation. “The only issue that remains is for Pakistan to vacate PoK,” he added.
Addressing another matter, the MEA spokesperson also commented on the status of fugitive Mehul Choksi, confirming that he is currently in the custody of Belgian authorities. “He has been arrested based on our extradition request. We are in touch with Belgium for his extradition to India,” Jaiswal stated.
The latest exchange underscores the deepening diplomatic rift between the two nations, with India making it clear that inflammatory rhetoric from Islamabad will not go unanswered.
