Gen Asim Munir, Pakistani Army Chief , reiterates two-nation theory at PMA Kakul amid fresh tensions with India following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Gen Syed Asim Munir, Pakistani Army Chief, once again invoked the controversial two-nation theory, on Saturday asserting that Muslims and Hindus are “two separate nations,” deepening the ongoing rhetoric amid rising tensions with India.
Speaking at the passing out parade at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) in Kakul, Abbottabad, General Munir claimed that Pakistan’s existence was the outcome of an “unparalleled struggle and sacrifices” driven by this ideological belief. “The two-nation theory was based on the fundamental belief that Muslims and Hindus are two separate nations, not one. Muslims are distinct from Hindus in all aspects of life – religion, customs, traditions, thinking, and aspirations,” Munir declared to the assembled cadets and dignitaries.
The Army Chief emphasized that protecting Pakistan’s sovereignty was a paramount duty of its armed forces, especially in light of the recent surge in border tensions. “Our forefathers gave immense sacrifices for the creation of Pakistan. We know how to defend it,” he said, making an indirect reference to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians.
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The event also witnessed an address by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who stated Islamabad’s willingness to participate in any “neutral, transparent, and credible” investigation into the Pahalgam attack. Sharif’s remarks appeared to be an attempt to defuse escalating hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, even as provocative statements from Pakistan’s military leadership continued.
General Munir’s comments are not new. In fact, just days before the deadly Pahalgam incident, the Pakistani Army Chief delivered a highly inflammatory speech at a Convention for Overseas Pakistanis held in Islamabad on April 16. Speaking in the presence of Prime Minister Sharif, Munir had once again emphasized the two-nation theory, and went a step further by calling Kashmir Pakistan’s “jugular vein.”
“You should definitely tell Pakistan’s story to your children,” Munir urged the gathering of expatriates. “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 asserted.
India was quick to respond. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), strongly rebuked the Pakistani Army Chief’s statements during a regular press briefing on April 17. “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 remarked, reiterating India’s consistent position on Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The two-nation theory, originally articulated by Muhammad Ali Jinnah prior to the partition of British India in 1947, continues to fuel political and military rhetoric in Pakistan, decades after independence. Critics argue that repeated invocations of this ideology serve only to harden divides and hinder efforts toward peace in South Asia.
Observers see Munir’s recent statements as particularly provocative against the backdrop of the Pahalgam tragedy and growing international calls for de-escalation. Analysts note that such remarks not only inflame public sentiment but also further strain an already volatile relationship between India and Pakistan.
While Islamabad claims to seek peaceful resolution through international investigation mechanisms, India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of harboring and aiding terrorist groups operating across the border. New Delhi maintains that Pakistan must first dismantle terror infrastructure on its soil if any meaningful dialogue is to occur.
As rhetoric escalates on both sides, the international community remains watchful, urging restraint and advocating for diplomatic channels to prevent further deterioration of the fragile regional stability.
