Field Marshal Asim Munir Labels Kashmir Terrorism a 'Legitimate Struggle,' Escalating Tensions with India
In a contentious address at the Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, intensified tensions with India by labeling the ongoing unrest in Jammu and Kashmir as a "legitimate and lawful struggle." He cautioned that any future Indian actions would be met with a "befitting response." His comments follow a recent military confrontation between the two countries during Operation Sindoor.
Munir contended that what India identifies as terrorism is actually a valid struggle for freedom, which is acknowledged by international law. He reiterated Pakistan's support for the Kashmiri separatist movement, arguing that efforts to stifle it have only enhanced its significance.
This statement is another instance where Munir has utilized diplomatic venues to signal backing for anti-India activities in Kashmir. India maintains that Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of its territory, and it considers Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism as the main obstacle to peace.
The Ministry of External Affairs in India has persistently criticized Pakistan's rhetoric and activities, accusing Islamabad of promoting terrorism under the guise of self-determination. Relations between the two nations have further deteriorated since India rescinded Article 370 on August 5, 2019, reorganizing Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories.
Munir also claimed that Pakistan has demonstrated its role as a "net regional stabiliser," referring to its actions following India's Balakot airstrike in 2019 and the recent Indian precision strikes during Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam terror attack. He emphasized that Pakistan has acted with "restraint and maturity," while promising a "swift and befitting response" to any miscalculated aggression.
While condemning India's policies in Kashmir, Munir reaffirmed Pakistan's official position of opposing terrorism in all its forms, vowing that the armed forces would continue to combat it "to its logical conclusion."
His speech, however, appears contradictory—advocating for what India terms as terrorism while claiming to oppose it on a global scale. Munir’s statements are likely to provoke strong diplomatic responses from New Delhi, which has consistently cautioned Islamabad against employing terrorism as a tool of state policy.
