Did Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir's Provocative Speech On Kashmir Trigger Pahalgam Attack?

Just days after Pakistan's Army chief General Asim Munir's provocative statement on Kashmir, the hill valley has witnessed the deadliest terror attack on civilians in recent years.

At least 26 people have been killed in the terror attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist group, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

What Did Asim Munir Say?

Addressing a gathering, Munir boasted that people should not forget that they belong to a "superior ideology and culture" while defending the two-nation theory, which led to the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. He said: "You should definitely tell Pakistan's story to your children. 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."

The Pakistan Army Chief claimed that India and Pakistan are two nations. He added: "We are not one nation. That is why our forefathers struggled to create this country. Our forefathers and we have sacrificed a lot for the creation of this country. We know how to defend it. My dear brothers, sisters, daughters and sons, please don't forget this story of Pakistan. Don't forget to narrate this story to your next generation so that their bond with Pakistan never weakens."

Talking about the impact of terrorism in Pakistan, he said, "Do you think terrorists can take away the destiny of the country? The 1.3 million-strong Indian Army, with all its wherewithal, if they cannot intimidate us, do you think these terrorists can subdue the armed forces of Pakistan?"

Munir added: "Balochistan is Pakistan's pride, you will just take it away so easily? You won't be able to take it in 10 generations. Inshallah, we will defeat these terrorists very soon. Pakistan will not fall." Speaking about Kashmir, General Munir said, "Our stance is absolutely clear, it was our jugular vein, it will be our jugular vein, we will not forget it. We will not leave our Kashmiri brothers in their heroic struggle."

Did Pakistan Army chief's Comment Trigger terror attack?

His provocative remarks are seen as indicators that triggered the TRF to carry out the attack, multiple intelligence officers told The Times of India.

Saifullah Kasuri, a top commander of LeT, and Rawalkot-based Lashkar commanders, one of whom is Abu Musa, are the suspects who plotted the incident, the report claimed.

At an event on April 18, Musa in Rawalkot said, "Jihad will continue, guns will rage and beheading will continue in Kashmir. India wants to change demography of Kashmir by giving domicile certificates to non locals."

It has to be noted that the victims were asked to recite the 'kalma' (Islamic phrase of degradation of faith) during the attack and once did not recite were shot dead.

PM Modi Cuts Short His Saudi Trip, Lands In Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cut short his Saudi Arabia trip and returned to Delhi on Wednesday. Upol arrival, he held a meeting with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was also part of the meeting.