In a stunning escalation of rhetoric, Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir issued a nuclear threat against India while speaking at a private dinner in Tampa, Florida, during his second visit to the United States in two months. The remarks, made in front of a select group of Pakistani-origin guests, mark the first recorded instance of a nuclear threat being issued from American soil against a third country.
What Munir Said
At the black-tie event hosted by businessman and honorary consul Adnan Asad, Munir declared:
“We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we’ll take half the world down with us.”
He further warned India over the Indus Waters Treaty, which New Delhi suspended following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack:
“We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does so, we will destroy it with 10 missiles. The Indus River is not the Indians’ family property. We have no shortage of missiles, al-Hamdulillah.”
Escalating Tensions with India
Munir’s remarks come amid heightened tensions following India’s Operation Sindoor, a targeted military campaign across the Line of Control. Pakistan has accused India of “unprovoked aggression” and has demanded transparency over Indian casualties.
He also referenced a tweet featuring Surah Fil and industrialist Mukesh Ambani, implying symbolic retaliation. Munir added:
“We’ll start from India’s East, where they have located their most valuable resources, and then move westwards.”
Crude Analogy
In a metaphorical comparison, Munir said:
“India is a shining Mercedes coming on a highway like a Ferrari, but we are a dump truck full of gravel. If the truck hits the car, who is going to be the loser?”
US Diplomatic Implications
Munir’s visit included high-level meetings with US military officials and a private luncheon with President Donald Trump, where he reportedly proposed Trump’s name for the Nobel Peace Prize. The remarks have sparked concern over Pakistan’s nuclear posture and its implications for regional stability.
