India strongly hits back at the recent statements made by Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, who referred to Kashmir as Pakistan’s "jugular vein." The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded on Thursday, questioning the logic behind such a claim, especially when Kashmir is a Union Territory of India.

MEA Slams Pakistan

During the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the comment made by General Munir. “How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein?” he asked, establishing that Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India. He added, “This is a Union Territory of India. Its only relationship with Pakistan is the vacating of illegally occupied territories by that country.”

Jaiswal’s response came in response to General Munir’s recent speech in which he claimed that Kashmir remains Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and said that the country “won’t forget it.” Munir also invoked the two-nation theory and linked the Partition of India in 1947, claiming that it occurred due to religious, cultural, and ideological differences between Hindus and Muslims.

General Munir Defends Partition

Addressing the people of Pakistan, General Munir said that they are the ambassadors of Pakistan and encouraged them to take pride in their culture. “You should definitely tell Pakistan's story to your children,” he said. “Our forefathers thought that we are different from the Hindus in every aspect of life. Our religions, our customs, traditions, thoughts, and ambitions are different. That was the foundation of the two-nation theory that was laid.”

The speech again proved Pakistan’s longstanding stance on Kashmir and the ideological justification for its creation. It has received lots of criticism from India, which reaffirms that Kashmir is an integral part of its sovereign territory.

Sovereignty Over Kashmir

India has always opposed any reference to Kashmir that questions its territorial integrity. The MEA's sharp response displayed the importance of defending India’s stance on the international stage and rejecting any foreign claims on its territory.