Thu Apr 17 10:50:00 UTC 2025: ## India Rejects Pakistan Army Chief’s Kashmir Claims as “Illegal Occupation”

**NEW DELHI** – India has sharply criticized comments made by Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, who referred to Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein.” The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strong statement dismissing Munir’s remarks, asserting that Pakistan’s only connection to Kashmir is the need to vacate illegally occupied territories.

“How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein? This is a Union Territory of India,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated. “Its only relationship with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally occupied territories by that country.”

General Munir, addressing Pakistanis abroad, reiterated the “two-nation theory,” emphasizing the supposed inherent differences between Hindus and Muslims as the basis for Pakistan’s creation. He urged Pakistanis to instill this narrative in their children and pledged unwavering support for the Kashmiri “struggle.” His statements on Kashmir highlight the issue’s continued centrality to the deeply strained relationship between India and Pakistan.

Analysts suggest Munir’s comments, delivered at a time of internal challenges for Pakistan, serve to bolster national unity by emphasizing a shared identity and portraying the military as the protector of Pakistani sovereignty and Islamic identity. However, India’s firm rejection of his claims underscores the deep-seated hostility and the lack of progress on the Kashmir dispute. The MEA’s response suggests no change in India’s position that Kashmir is an integral part of India. The escalating rhetoric raises concerns about the potential for further deterioration in Indo-Pakistani relations.

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