Islamabad, April 17, 2025 — Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, reaffirmed the country’s firm stance on the Kashmir issue, calling it Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and vowing never to forget or abandon the cause.
Speaking at a military ceremony in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, General Munir said, “Kashmir is our jugular vein. The people of Pakistan and its armed forces will never forget the sacrifices of our Kashmiri brothers and sisters. We will continue to support them morally, politically, and diplomatically.”
The Army Chief’s remarks come amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan over the status of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly following India’s revocation of Article 370 in 2019, which had granted special autonomy to the region.
General Munir also accused India of “state-sponsored oppression” in Kashmir and urged the international community to intervene for what he described as a just resolution in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
Pakistan has consistently maintained that Kashmir is a disputed territory and should be resolved through dialogue and in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. India, on the other hand, considers the entire region an integral part of its territory.
The statement is likely to draw a sharp reaction from New Delhi, which has repeatedly rejected external commentary on what it calls its “internal matter.”
This is not the first time Pakistani military leadership has used strong language regarding Kashmir. Similar sentiments have been echoed by successive army chiefs and political leaders over the years, keeping the issue at the forefront of Pakistan’s national and foreign policy agendas.
