MEA Announces Likely Resumption of Kailash Manasarovar Yatra Soon

Responding to Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir's assertion that Kashmir is Islamabad's "jugular vein," India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified on Thursday that Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is a Union Territory of India. The MEA underscored that the sole linkage between India and Pakistan over the area is the latter's obligation to vacate territories that it has illegally occupied.

General Munir, speaking to the Overseas Pakistani Convention in Islamabad on Tuesday, had reaffirmed Pakistan's position on Kashmir, saying, "Our position is crystal clear, it was our jugular vein, it will be our jugular vein, we will not forget it.". We will not abandon our Kashmiri brethren in their courageous struggle." He appealed to the Pakistani diaspora to uphold values and vision that resulted in the establishment of Pakistan, urging them to leave this legacy for generations to come. He added, "We are not one nation. That is why our ancestors had fought to make this nation. Our ancestors and we have paid a lot for making this nation. We understand how to protect it… please do not forget this tale of Pakistan. Do not forget to tell this tale to your coming generation so that their attachment with Pakistan never gets less strong."

Besides, General Munir declared, "Our religions are different, our customs are different, our traditions are different, our thoughts are different, our ambitions are different. That was the foundation of the two-nation theory that was laid there. We are two nations, we are not one nation," in one of his strongest comments recently.

In response to General Munir's remarks, MEA official Randhir Jaiswal reacted sharply, saying, "How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein? This is a Union Territory of India. Its only connection with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally occupied territories by that country."

General Munir also spoke about the threat of terrorism, claiming that Pakistan's military would meet the threat of terrorism with force. He said, "Do Pakistan's enemies believe that a few terrorists can determine the destiny of Pakistan… even 10 generations of terrorists cannot damage Balochistan and Pakistan. Today, we are issuing this clear message… that whatever is obstructing Pakistan's development, we will get rid of that obstacle together."

This was a reaction to a recent event in which the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the Jaffar Express train in Bolan Pass and 64 people died, including all 33 assailants. General Munir declared, "We will beat the hell out of these terrorists very soon… you think, these 1,500 terrorists belonging to BLA, BLF (Balochistan Liberation Front) and BRA (Baloch Republican Army) can take Balochistan from us.