Pak Army Chief Munir Amplifies Anti-India Rhetoric with ‘Jugular Vein’ Remark in U.S

Swift Summary:

• Pakistani Army Chief Asim munir, during a visit to the U.S., reiterated anti-India rhetoric by calling Kashmir the “jugular vein” of Pakistan.
• Speaking to the Pakistani diaspora in Tampa,Florida,Mr.Munir claimed Kashmir was “not an internal matter of India but an incomplete international agenda,” quoting Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
• He declared that Pakistan had given India a “befitting reply” during recent conflicts and warned against further aggression.
• India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed the remarks, affirming Jammu & Kashmir as an integral part of India and criticizing Pakistan’s claim over it.
• Mr. Munir also acknowledged his second U.S visit within months as essential for strengthening bilateral ties with Washington, notably around strategic issues and trade agreements expected to boost investment in Pakistan.
• During his trip, he attended key military events, including CENTCOM leadership transitions and meetings with top U.S military officials such as General Dan Caine.
• The Pakistani army credited former President Donald Trump for de-escalating tensions between India and pakistan earlier.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
The remarks by General Asim Munir concerning Jammu & Kashmir reflect long-standing positions held by successive Pakistani leaders but find little traction internationally or diplomatically today. India’s immediate rebuttal underscores its firm stance on sovereignty over the region while maintaining that bilateral engagement remains free from third-party mediation-contrary to claims about external involvement like those attributed to Donald Trump.

By focusing on bolstering ties with Washington through repeated engagements-both economic and strategic-Pakistan appears intent on securing external support amid ongoing domestic challenges. For India, reiterations like these serve as reminders of historical disputes yet highlight limited shifts in policy or discourse from Islamabad’s end that coudl foster renewed dialog.

Read more: The Hindu