Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade: India slams Asim Munir's threat, calls Pak 'irresponsible' nuke state

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday strongly condemned the recent nuclear threat reportedly made by Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir during his visit to the United States.

In a statement, the MEA spokesperson said that "nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan’s stock-in-trade" and expressed regret that such remarks were made from the soil of a friendly third country. The statement warned the international community to draw its own conclusions on the "irresponsibility inherent" in these remarks, which also amplify longstanding concerns about the integrity of Pakistan’s nuclear command and control, especially given the military’s close ties with terrorist groups.

The MEA reaffirmed India’s position that it "will not give in to nuclear blackmail" and assured that it will continue to take all necessary steps to safeguard national security.

Irresponsible nuclear state

Government sources told PTI that the Pakistan Army Chief’s threat during an address to the Pakistani diaspora in Tampa, Florida, exposed the neighbour as an irresponsible nuclear state. Munir was reported to have said, "We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we'll take half the world down with us," referring to a hypothetical future war with India.

Sources described Munir’s comments as a symptom of Pakistan’s lack of democracy, pointing out the dominant role of the military in the country’s affairs. They suggested that the Pakistan military’s aggressive posture tends to surface whenever the US supports it.

"Emboldened by the reception and welcome in the US, the next step could possibly be a silent or open coup in Pakistan so that the Field Marshal becomes the President," a PTI source said.

The remarks have added to existing anxieties about the stability and control of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal amid the country’s complex political and security landscape.

Also Read: On US soil, Pakistan’s Asim Munir threatens to nuke and take half the world down

Nuclear and Kashmir tensions

Asim Munir also reiterated his country’s long-standing anti-India stance on Kashmir and warning of nuclear retaliation in a future conflict with India. Munir described Kashmir as the "jugular vein" of Pakistan, echoing rhetoric that has repeatedly drawn strong condemnation from New Delhi.

During his US visit, Munir also asserted that Pakistan responded “resolutely and forcefully” to recent military engagements with India, warning that any Indian aggression would be met with a “befitting reply.” His remarks come amid efforts to strengthen Pakistan-US relations, including high-profile meetings with senior US military leaders and Pakistani diaspora members.

Munir's second US trip

Munir’s visit marks his second trip to the United States in less than two months, highlighting a new phase of Pakistan-US cooperation following meetings with former US President Donald Trump and others. Despite these diplomatic engagements, India has repeatedly maintained that any ceasefire or de-escalation on the border has been a result of direct military dialogue without third-party mediation.

The Pakistan Army Chief also praised Trump’s strategic leadership for preventing conflicts globally and expressed optimism about forthcoming trade agreements and foreign investment in Pakistan.