Pakistan on Monday strongly dismissed Indian claims that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir made provocative nuclear statements during his recent visit to the United States, terming the remarks “distorted, misleading, and taken out of context.”
General Munir, in his second trip to the US in less than two months, held meetings with senior American political and military leaders, attended a farewell for US CENTCOM Commander General Michael Kurilla, and engaged with the Pakistani diaspora in Florida.
Indian media, citing unnamed sources, claimed Munir had said, “We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we’ll take half the world down with us.” The statement drew criticism from India’s foreign ministry, which accused Pakistan of “nuclear sabre-rattling” and called it “irresponsible,” particularly when made in a “friendly third country.”
Responding to the allegations, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan rejected India’s narrative of so-called “nuclear blackmail” as a “self-serving construct.” He stressed that Pakistan remains firmly opposed to the use or threat of force and accused New Delhi of habitual “war-mongering and distortion of facts.”
Khan emphasised that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state with a robust civilian-controlled command and control system, consistently exercising restraint in sensitive matters. He highlighted the country’s internationally recognised counterterrorism efforts and said its security forces remain a bulwark against terrorism.
The FO also criticised India’s attempt to draw in other countries through “pointless references,” calling it a sign of diplomatic insecurity. Khan warned that while Pakistan will continue to act as a responsible member of the international community, any Indian aggression or violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty will be met with an “immediate and matching response,” with responsibility for escalation resting solely on Indian leadership.
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