'How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein?'; India's strong rebuttal to General Asim Munir's Kashmir remark

NEW DELHI: India responded strongly to Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir's remark juxtaposing Islamabad's relationship with Kashmir with a jugular vein.

"Pakistan's only connection with Kashmir is through the territory it illegally occupies. It should vacate it," said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. Kashmir is an integral part of India. “How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein?”

The Pakistan Army Chief made the controversial remarks at an event called the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad. General Asim Munir also asked the audience to instil the spirit of Pakistan in their children. Kashmir cannot be forgotten. We will not abandon our Kashmiri brothers and sisters, he added.

India also rejected the Pakistani Foreign Office's explanation regarding Tahawwur Hussain Rana, an accused in the Mumbai terror attack conspiracy case. Pakistan termed Rana as a Canadian citizen who has nothing to do with Pakistan. However, Randhir Jaiswal rebutted, saying it was a dire attempt from Pakistan to hide their failures when it comes to eradicating terrorism. This comes as Rana's interrogation continues at the NIA headquarters in Delhi.

The other day, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar had warned Pakistan that the consequences would be serious, unlike ever before, if the neighbouring country abets another terrorist attack against India.