New York: Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has once again described Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein,” repeating his anti-India rhetoric during an address to the Pakistani diaspora in Tampa, Florida, as part of his ongoing visit to the United States.
Weeks before the Pahalgam attack, Munir had declared that Pakistan would never forget the Kashmir issue, calling it “our jugular vein.” India dismissed the remark, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stating, “How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein? This is a Union Territory of India. Its only link with Pakistan is the need for vacation of illegally occupied territories by that country.”
In Tampa, Munir claimed Pakistan had responded “resolutely and forcefully” during the recent conflict with India, warning that any Indian aggression would be met with a “befitting reply.” He reiterated that Kashmir was “not an internal matter of India but an incomplete international agenda,” echoing Pakistan’s founder Quaid-e-Azam.
The Pakistani army said Munir’s visit—his second to the US in less than two months—signaled a “new dimension” in Pakistan-US relations, aimed at fostering constructive, sustainable, and positive engagement. Munir expressed gratitude to former US President Donald Trump, claiming his “strategic leadership” had averted war between India and Pakistan and prevented other global conflicts.
New Delhi, however, maintains that the cessation of hostilities between the two countries followed direct military talks, without US mediation.
Munir also said a forthcoming trade agreement with the US could draw major investments, adding that Pakistan had made “significant diplomatic gains” in recent months. His earlier June trip to the US included a rare private luncheon with Trump—an honor usually reserved for visiting heads of state—which led to an announcement of enhanced bilateral cooperation, including an oil deal.
While in Tampa, Munir attended the Retirement Ceremony of outgoing CENTCOM Commander General Michael E. Kurilla and the Change of Command Ceremony for Admiral Brad Cooper. He also met Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, inviting him to visit Pakistan, and held talks with defence chiefs from allied nations.
During his interaction with the Pakistani diaspora, Munir urged them to remain confident in Pakistan’s future and actively contribute to attracting investment. The diaspora, in turn, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Pakistan’s development, according to the army’s statement.
