NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir’s only relationship with Pakistan is that of Islamabad vacating the illegally occupied part of the Union Territory, India said on Thursday, strongly trashing Pakistan Army Chief Gen Asim Munir’s remarks on the region.
In his address at an event in Islamabad this week, Gen Munir described Kashmir as the “jugular vein” of Pakistan and asserted that no one would be able to separate Kashmir from his country.
“How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein? This is a Union territory of India. Its only relationship with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally occupied territories by that country,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
On Pakistan’s attempts to wash its hands off the 26/11 terror accused Tahawwur Rana, Jaiswal said: “Pakistan may try very hard but its reputation as the epicentre of global terrorism will not diminish.”
“The extradition of Rana serves as a reminder to Pakistan that it needs to bring to justice other perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks whom it continues to shield,” he said.
Rana, 64, was brought to India on April 10 after all hurdles for his extradition were removed by the US.
A Canadian national of Pakistani origin, Rana is now in the custody of Indian investigating agencies.