Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir’s recent comments branding the violence in Jammu and Kashmir as a “legitimate freedom struggle” are a blatant attempt to distort facts and provoke sentiment at a sensitive time in the region. Coming from a military figure rather than a civilian diplomat, these remarks reinforce the long-standing reality that Pakistan’s Kashmir narrative is deeply militarised and divorced from the democratic and constitutional processes that govern India’s internal matters. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, and any challenge to its sovereignty — especially under the guise of a so-called freedom movement — is not just inaccurate but also dangerous.India’s position on Jammu and Kashmir has been consistent: acts of violence, especially those supported or orchestrated from across the border, are acts of terrorism. Munir’s statement attempts to internationalise the Kashmir issue by invoking “international law,” yet conveniently ignores the well-documented support provided by Pakistan to terrorist groups operating in the region. Global forums, including the UN and FATF, have repeatedly highlighted Pakistan’s complicity in fostering terror networks. Labelling terrorism as a freedom struggle is an affront to the lives lost in the Valley due to cross-border militancy and undermines the genuine aspirations of peace and development held by the Kashmiri people.
Moreover, Munir’s warning of a “strong reply” in case of future Indian actions only reflects the habitual belligerence of the Pakistani establishment. It is a rhetoric designed for domestic posturing and to maintain the Army’s relevance in Pakistan’s internal political calculus. India, while committed to peace, cannot be expected to overlook such provocations. The need of the hour is for Islamabad to move away from incendiary statements and to instead engage in sincere efforts towards regional stability. True support for the people of Kashmir — on either side of the border — lies not in fuelling conflict, but in encouraging cooperation, economic development, and a shared vision for South Asia’s future.