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India has strongly condemned Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir’s provocative remarks threatening nuclear escalation, issued not from Islamabad, but from U.S. soil.
Speaking at a private event in Tampa, Florida, Munir reportedly declared that Pakistan would “take half the world down” if it faced an existential threat in a future conflict with India.
This is believed to be the first known instance in modern diplomatic history where a country has issued a nuclear threat against a third nation while on a visit to the United States, raising serious concerns in New Delhi and among the international community.
Reacting sharply, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the remarks “reaffirm longstanding global concerns” about Pakistan’s nuclear command structure and the dangers of conflating military leadership with extremist rhetoric.
“Our attention has been drawn to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff while on a visit to the United States,” said MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
“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 well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups,” he said.
“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.”
A Dangerous Precedent on Friendly Ground
Munir’s speech, delivered at a private black-tie dinner in Florida hosted by Pakistani-American businessman Adnan Asad, was attended by over 100 guests, including a representative of the Israeli Defence Forces. Participants were reportedly barred from carrying digital devices, adding to the secrecy surrounding the event.
His remarks included direct threats to Indian infrastructure, notably the Indus Water infrastructure, which has become a flashpoint after India announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
“We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does, phir das missile sey faarigh kar dengey (we will destroy it with 10 missiles),” Munir reportedly said, adding: “Humein missilon ki kami nahi hai, alhamdulillah (we have no shortage of missiles, by the grace of Almighty).”
Munir also reiterated his controversial “jugular vein” remark about Kashmir, claiming the region remains an “international issue” and dismissing India’s sovereign stance on the matter.
Backlash Over U.S. Engagement and Operation Sindoor
The timing of Munir’s second visit to the United States in just two months is not lost on observers in Delhi. His arrival comes barely three months after India launched Operation Sindoor (May 6–10), a swift and decisive military action that targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan-administered territories in response to the Pahalgam massacre. The operation dealt a significant blow to Pakistani military positions and escalated tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Despite Pakistan’s battlefield losses, the U.S. military, under now-retired CENTCOM commander General Michael Kurilla, reportedly commended Pakistan for its “anti-terror efforts.” In a controversial gesture, Pakistan awarded Kurilla its second-highest civilian honour, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, a move widely seen in India as diplomatic theatre to mask Pakistan’s military setbacks.
Former Indian diplomat Anil Trigunayat condemned Munir’s behaviour and questioned the growing camaraderie between the Pakistani general and Washington.
“Well, General Munir seems to have lost his marbles by his proximity to the current U.S. administration,” Trigunayat said.
“Threatening by nuclear blackmail is the old rant, and the world must take note of such irresponsible statements.”
Trump’s Role and Rising Bilateral Friction
The latest episode also comes in the wake of rising tensions between India and U.S. President Donald Trump. After New Delhi refused to acknowledge any American role in brokering post-Sindoor ceasefire arrangements with Pakistan, Trump responded with a series of punitive measures, including a 50% tariff on Indian imports and threats of sanctions over India’s continued defence and energy dealings with Russia.
Observers believe Trump was irked after Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly rejected claims that Washington played a role in calming tensions with Islamabad.
In a symbolic gesture that raised eyebrows in South Block, Trump invited Munir to a private White House luncheon in June and has since welcomed his visits with open arms. Pakistan has even nominated Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize, citing his alleged efforts in “conflict de-escalation” in South Asia.
A Pattern of Reckless Statements
It is not the first time Munir has made incendiary claims. In Tampa, he reportedly invoked Surah Al-Fil, a Quranic verse depicting divine vengeance against enemies, referencing Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani in what many viewed as a thinly-veiled threat against India’s economic infrastructure.
He also took aim at India’s refusal to publicly acknowledge its own battlefield casualties post-Operation Sindoor, saying:
“The Indians should accept their losses. Sportsman spirit is a virtue.”
The Pakistani military, which remains deeply embedded in the country’s politics, has long blurred the lines between strategic messaging and ideological posturing. Munir’s recent statement that “politics is too serious to be left to the politicians” has only further fuelled speculation about his political ambitions.
What It Means Going Forward
With India-U.S. ties now facing an unexpected strain, questions are being raised about Washington’s quiet tolerance of Munir’s provocative conduct, especially when made from American soil.
India has drawn a red line: its sovereignty, water rights, and security architecture are non-negotiable. And it has made clear that no nuclear blackmail, no matter where it is issued from, will alter that stance.
Huma Siddiqui
