Pakistan Army chief general Asim Munir has brought up the two-nation theory that was used during the Partition and has emphasised that India and Pakistan are two different nations due to their religion, culture, thoughts, and ambition and that the upcoming generations should remember the sacrifices made for the birth of Pakistan.
The general made the comments while addressing the Overseas Pakistani Convention in Islamabad on Wednesday.
"…Our forefathers thought we were different from Hindus in every possible aspect of life," he said. “Our religion is different, our customs are different, our traditions are different, our thoughts are different, our ambitions are different. That’s where the foundation of the two-nation theory was laid. We are two nations, we are not one nation.”
Urging Pakistani citizens to remember and pass on stories of the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan, Munir said, “My dear brothers and sisters and sons and daughters, please don’t forget the story of Pakistan and don’t forget to narrate the story of Pakistan to your next generation, so that their bond with Pakistan never weakens. Whether it is the third generation, or the fourth generation, or the fifth generation, they know what Pakistan is for them." He added, "Our forefathers have sacrificed immensely, and we have sacrificed a lot for the creation of this country, and we know how to defend it."
Munir's remarks faced a sharp backlash on social media as Indians retaliated.
Author Tanvi Madan said that the Pakistani Army chief was "stuck like a record". "Meanwhile, this is a consequence and it's not India or the US or anyone else who did this to Pakistan," she said, adding that Pakistan's GDP per capita about the same in 1990 while India's figures are almost double. Bangladesh, whose GDP per capita was lower than Pakistan's for years, also has a much higher figure than the neighbouring country now.
Journalist Taha Siddiqui slammed Munir for spewing hate against Hindus and propagates the two-nation theory, "which failed in 1971 when Bangladesh got independence from Pakistan". "He asserts that children must be taught such 'falsehoods' since it's easier to brainwash youth. Shameful!" he wrote on X.
Another X user said that the difference between Indian and Pakistani nationals isn't so vivid in the West as is being described by Munir. "When you go live in Britain or Canada - there is not much difference between the people of two countries. Language, racial appearance, values and food determines most of the culture - which is broadly similar to North India. The animosity between two countries on religion is a man-made problem that should not have existed in the first place," commented A (@A70038164).
Rohit Kaul (@rohitkaul23) wrote, "These people are responsible for the mess in Pakistan...religion is a private affair and should find no place in the way government and systems work...What about Pakistani Hindus? Won't they feel insecure with such statements?"
There were, however, users who found truth in Munir's comments and countered allegations that he was spewing hate against Hindus. "As an Indian Hindu, I obviously hold no beef for this man, but where exactly is he spewing hate on Hindus here?? Yes, Hindus and Muslims are very different. That is what Jinnah said, and he was right," said Siddhartha Das (@sidharthone).
"The pain of partition was immense, but the two-nation theory recognised a truth: Hindus and Muslims had distinct identities, beliefs, and visions, rooted in civilizational, cultural, and religious divergence," added Sidharth (@sidmoh575). "Partition wasn’t just political,it was necessary. One land, two nations."
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