NEW DELHI, April 17: India firmly rebutted Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir’s recent comments describing Kashmir as Islamabad’s “jugular vein,” asserting that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and that Pakistan continues to illegally occupy a portion of the territory which it must vacate.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), through its spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, strongly criticised Munir’s statements made during a Convention for Overseas Pakistanis. “See, how can anything foreign be their jugular vein? This is a Union Territory of India. Its only relationship with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally-occupied territories by that country,” Jaiswal said during a press briefing on Thursday.

General Munir, addressing the Pakistani diaspora, had reignited the two-nation theory, urging them not to forget that they belong to a “superior ideology and culture.” He told the gathering, “You should definitely tell Pakistan’s story to your children. 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.” He further asserted, “Our stance is absolutely clear, it was our jugular vein, it will be our jugular vein, we will not forget it.”

Responding to these remarks, the MEA reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is a Union Territory of India and firmly reminded Pakistan of its own actions. “Pakistan would do better to look at its own abysmal record when it comes to protecting the rights of minorities, instead of preaching to others,” Jaiswal said.

In a related development earlier this week, the MEA also condemned Pakistan’s “motivated and baseless comments” on India’s Waqf Amendment Act, asserting that it is an internal matter of the country. “We strongly reject the motivated and baseless comments made by Pakistan on the Waqf Amendment Act enacted by the Parliament of India. Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on a matter that is internal to India,” the MEA said in an official statement.

During Thursday’s briefing, Jaiswal added that the Waqf Amendment Bill proposes several inclusive policies to make the legislation more progressive and beneficial to its intended recipients. “All the elements of the Waqf Act are an internal matter of India,” he stated.

India’s sharp response underscores its continuing stance against what it sees as unwarranted interference by Pakistan in matters concerning its sovereignty and internal legislative affairs.