Islamabad/New Delhi: India has strongly rebutted recent remarks made by Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir, who invoked the two-nation theory and reiterated Pakistan’s claim over Kashmir during a public address. Responding firmly on Thursday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs asserted that the only link Pakistan has with Jammu and Kashmir is to vacate the areas it has illegally occupied.
Addressing the media, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. The only issue with Pakistan is the vacation of its illegal occupation from parts of the region.”
General Munir, speaking at the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad on Wednesday, had urged Pakistanis to educate their children about the ideological foundation of their nation. Referring to the two-nation theory, he said, “Our ancestors believed that we were different from Hindus in every aspect of life — our religion, customs, traditions, thinking, and aspirations. That is where the idea of two separate nations was born. We are two nations, not one.”
He further emphasized, “No power in the world can separate Kashmir from Pakistan.” The General called on Pakistanis across generations to remember the sacrifices made for the country’s creation and to pass on the nation’s legacy to future generations, stating, “Please don’t let your relationship with Pakistan weaken — not in the third generation, not in the fourth, nor the fifth.”
India Reacts: ‘Pakistan Should Vacate Occupied Territories’
India, while denouncing the speech, reiterated that such statements hold no value in the face of international law and facts on the ground. Officials termed Munir’s comments as provocative and said Pakistan should instead focus on addressing its internal challenges.
Assam CM Joins the Chorus
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also weighed in, responding sharply on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He wrote, “Pakistan’s Army Chief has openly stated that there is a deep ideological chasm between our two nations. It’s time India accepts the reality and abandons any hope of close ties with Pakistan.”
Sarma added that the comments underscore the need for India to strengthen its own civilizational and cultural identity. “We must focus on building a strong nation rooted in our values and traditions. Only by doing so can we reach greater heights,” he stated.
Longstanding Tensions
The diplomatic spat adds to a long list of hostile exchanges between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Relations have remained strained since the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, with Pakistan persistently raising the Kashmir issue on international platforms—often to little effect.
As of now, there are no signs of thawing relations, and the latest comments from the Pakistan Army Chief are likely to further harden positions on both sides.
