India has strongly condemned Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir’s recent nuclear threat, describing it as “nuclear sabre-rattling” and a dangerous sign of Islamabad’s irresponsibility.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs expressed regret that Munir made such remarks while visiting a friendly third country, the United States. Speaking to a gathering of Pakistani-origin individuals in Tampa, Florida, Munir reportedly warned of nuclear war if Pakistan faced an existential threat from India.
“The international community can judge the recklessness in such statements, which only deepen concerns about nuclear command and control in a country where the military works hand-in-glove with terrorist groups,” the ministry said. It reiterated that India will not be swayed by “nuclear blackmail” and will take all steps necessary to safeguard national security.
Government sources called Pakistan an “irresponsible state with nuclear weapons” and claimed Munir’s comments followed a familiar pattern: “Whenever the US supports Pakistan’s military, they reveal their true colours.” They also warned of the danger of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of non-state actors in Pakistan, adding that the country’s military—not its democracy—controls power.
Munir allegedly declared, “We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we’ll take half the world down with us.” He also threatened to destroy any Indian infrastructure on the Indus River, claiming New Delhi’s move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty after the April Pahalgam terror attack could endanger 250 million Pakistanis.
The remarks mark the first known instance of nuclear threats against a third country being made from US soil.
