India on Monday issued a strong rebuke to reported remarks by Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Asim Munir, during his visit to the United States, describing them as a case of Pakistan’s habitual “nuclear sabre-rattling.”
In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the comments reinforced long-standing global concerns over the credibility and security of Pakistan’s nuclear command and control—particularly in a state where the military is “hand-in-glove with terrorist groups.”
The ministry also noted it was “regrettable” that such remarks were made on the soil of a friendly third country, underscoring the inappropriateness of the venue and the message.
Reaffirming its long-standing position, the MEA reiterated that India would never succumb to nuclear blackmail and would take every necessary measure to safeguard its national security interests.
MEA’s Full Statement
Our attention has been drawn to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff while on a visit to the United States.
Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan’s stock-in-trade.
The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups.
It is also regrettable that these remarks should have been made from the soil of a friendly third country.
India has already made it clear that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail. We will continue to take all steps necessary to safeguard our national security.
Munir’s Nuke Threat
According to media reports, Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir issued an explicit nuclear threat during an address to the Pakistani diaspora in Tampa, Florida.
He reportedly said that if his country were ever confronted with an existential threat in a future conflict with India, “We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we’ll take half the world down with us.”
Sources in India noted that such remarks fit into a broader pattern wherein Pakistani military leaders reveal aggressive posturing whenever Washington extends support to their armed forces.
They described the comments as further evidence of the lack of democratic governance in Pakistan, where the military retains effective control over the state’s affairs.
One source even speculated that Munir’s warm reception in the U.S. could embolden him to take more drastic steps, hinting at the possibility of a silent or overt coup that could elevate him to the presidency—effectively transforming him into a Field Marshal-President.
(With inputs from IBNS)
