Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir Warns of Nuclear Retaliation Against India During US Visit

Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir warned that Pakistan would be prepared to unleash a nuclear war and destroy half the world if it ever faced an existential threat from India.

Speaking at a formal black-tie dinner in Tampa, Florida, he declared, “We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we’ll take half the world down with us.”

The statement, delivered in front of an invited audience where mobile phones were prohibited, underscored his aggressive stance toward India.

Warning over the Indus Waters Treaty

Munir issued another threat over the Indus Waters Treaty, stating that Pakistan would destroy any dam India might build on the Indus River.

“We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does so, phir 10 missile sey faarigh kar dengey [we will destroy it with 10 missiles],” he said.

He described the treaty as essential for Pakistan, warning that its termination could lead to starvation for 250 million Pakistanis. “The Indus is not the Indians’ family property. We have no shortage of missiles. Praise be to god,” he added.

Reference to recent conflict

In Tampa, Munir taunted India over the recent Four-Day War, which ended in a ceasefire. Referring to the conflict as Bunyaanum Marsoos, a Quranic phrase likening those who fight for God to a solid wall, he said, “The Indians should accept their losses.”

He noted that Pakistan would disclose its own losses if India did the same. Quranic references are a frequent feature of Munir’s speeches.

Engagement with US leadership

Munir was in the US for the farewell of Centcom chief Gen. Michael Kurilla, whose area of responsibility includes South Asia.

Kurilla had described Pakistan as “a phenomenal partner in the counter-terrorism world” at a congressional hearing. Munir urged the US to treat both India and Pakistan as strategic partners.

In June, he became the first Pakistan Army chief to have lunch with US President Donald Trump at the White House, an event that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif did not attend. These recent remarks, however, are among his most hawkish.

Longstanding hard-line stance

Munir’s hard-line rhetoric is not new. In April, shortly before the outbreak of hostilities between India and Pakistan, he described Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and emphasized the differences between “Hindu” India and Muslim Pakistan.

“Our religion is different, our customs are different, our traditions are different, our thoughts are different, our ambitions are different. That’s where the foundation of the two-nation theory was laid,” he said.

“Our forefathers gave immense sacrifices for the creation of Pakistan. We know how to defend it.”

At an army passing-out parade in Abbottabad, he repeated that the two-nation theory rests on the belief that Muslims and Hindus are distinct in all aspects of life.

India’s response to Kashmir remarks

India rejected Munir’s repeated claims that Kashmir is Pakistan’s “jugular vein.” The Ministry of External Affairs stated, “How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein? This is a union territory of India. Its only relationship with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally occupied territories by that country.”

Address to Pakistani diaspora

During his address in Tampa, attended by about 120 people, mostly Pakistani-Americans, Munir said Kashmir is “not an internal matter of India but an incomplete international agenda.”

He described his second US visit in a short period as marking a new phase in Pakistan-US relations, aiming for a “constructive, sustainable and positive path.” He also thanked Trump, claiming his leadership had stopped wars between India and Pakistan and prevented other global conflicts.

Economic and diplomatic priorities

Munir expressed optimism about a trade agreement with the US, expecting it to bring major investments. He highlighted Pakistan’s recent successes in international relations and the importance of engaging the diaspora in attracting investment.

During his trip, Munir attended the Retirement Ceremony of Gen. Michael Kurilla and the Change of Command Ceremony for Admiral Brad Cooper. He also met Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen.

Dan Caine, inviting him to visit Pakistan, and held discussions with defense chiefs from allied nations. The Pakistani army stated that the diaspora reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Pakistan’s progress and development.