India has issued a strong rebuke to remarks made by Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, during his recent U.S. visit, accusing Islamabad of recklessly flaunting its nuclear capabilities. India accused them of “showcasing nuclear power” and raised serious questions about the credibility of Pakistan’s nuclear command and control system.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in its sharp statement termed the comments of the Pakistani military leadership as “irresponsible” and said that such statements further reinforce the already existing doubts about the safety and responsibility of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.
The Ministry of External Affairs said, “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.”
What Asim Munir Said In US
Asim Munir reportedly said that if Pakistan’s existence is threatened in a future war with India, it will not hesitate to “destroy half the world”. This statement is being seen as the first known nuclear threat made from US soil against a third country. According to reports, he said, “We are a nuclear power. If we feel that we are being finished, we will take half the world with us.”
Munir also warned that if India built any structure on the Indus river system that could disrupt water supply to Pakistan, it would be completely destroyed. He also made it clear that Pakistan has no shortage of missiles.
Additionally, he alleged that India’s move to suspend the Indus Water Treaty after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April could put about 250 million people at risk of starvation.
“We will wait for India to build the dam, and as soon as it does, we will fire missiles at it and will completely destroy it. The Indus River is not India’s private property. We have no shortage of missiles, alhamdulillah, by the grace of God we have plenty of missiles,” Munir reportedly said.
MEA Statement
MEA statement also mentioned, “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.”
This statement comes at a time when tensions are rising again between India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed countries. Recent diplomatic and military developments have once again brought the issue of security and stability in South Asia to the center.
