We are different from Hindus: Pak army chief invokes 2-nation theory

Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir has referred to Kashmir as their “jugular vein” and invoked the two-nation theory to assert that the “differences between Hindus and Muslims” formed the basis of the Partition in 1947.

General Munir, addressing diaspora in Islamabad on Wednesday, also eluded to “1.3 million-strong Indian Army” to suggest that the Pakistan army couldn’t be subdued by a handful of rebels in Balochistan.

The army chief termed the diasopora country’s ambassadors and said they belonged to a “superior ideology and culture”. “You must tell Pakistan’s story to your children. Our forefathers believed 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,” General Munir said.

VP Menon, Secretary of State (Union Home Secretary) from 1947-1951, in his seminal work ‘Story of integration of Indian states’, had referred to the two-nation theory and the stance taken by Pakistan’s founder Mohd Ali Jinnah, who had declared that the Hindus and Muslims should have two separate nations, and that both must share the governance of their common motherland.

In his address, General Munir said there was fear that Pakistan won’t get investment due to the “terrorist activity” in Balochistan. “Do you think terrorists can take away the destiny of the country? If the 1.3 million-strong Indian Army, with all its wherewithal, cannot intimidate us, do you think these terrorists can subdue the armed forces of Pakistan?” he said.

On Kashmir, General Munir said: “Our stance is absolutely clear, it was and will be our jugular vein, we’ll not forget it. We will not leave our Kashmiri brothers in their struggle.” India has repeatedly told Pakistan that the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh “was, is and shall forever” remain an integral part of the country. Kashmir remains at the heart of the India-Pakistan conflict. Both have fought four wars in 1947-48, 1965, 1971 and 1999.

Vacate J&K territory: MEA

The MEA on Thursday slammed General Asim Munir’s “jugular vein” remark on Kashmir, saying the only relationship that Pakistan has with Kashmir is to “vacate” the territories of J&K it has illegally occupied. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein? This (J&K) is our UT. Its only relationship with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally occupied territories by it.”