Hindus and Muslims are different: Pakistan Army chief backs two-nation theory

General Munir made the remark while addressing the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad.

"Our forefathers believed that we were different from Hindus in every possible aspect of life. Our religion is different. Our customs are different. Our traditions are different. Our thoughts are different. Our ambitions are different... That was the foundation of the two-nation theory. It was laid on the belief that we are two nations, not one," said General Munir.

"You must tell this to your children so that they never forget the story of Pakistan," he said and added, "Our forefathers made immense sacrifices, and we too, have sacrificed a lot for the creation of this country... My dear brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters, please do not forget this story."

Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the All India Muslim League had favoured the two-nation theory in 1930s and 1940s believing that Muslims couldn't live freely in Hindu-majority India after the British left.

In 1930, philosopher-poet Allama Iqbal had proposed the idea of creating a separate Muslim state in North-West India.

In 1940, the Lahore Resolution had even demanded "independent states" for Muslims in east and northwest India.

When British rule ended in 1947, India was divided into two nations- secular, Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan.