Pakistan Ex-Envoy Calls for Attacks on India if US Strikes | India-Pakistan Tensions
Islamabad – Former Pakistani High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, has ignited controversy with a statement suggesting Pakistan should target Indian cities with nuclear weapons if attacked by the United States. The remarks, made amidst escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, were reported by multiple Indian news outlets and quickly drew condemnation.
Basit, who served as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India from 2014 to 2017, posited a hypothetical scenario, stating, “Suppose the US attacks Pakistan, Pakistan should bomb Mumbai and Delhi.” The former diplomat’s comments come as Pakistan conducts aerial strikes within Afghanistan, prompting accusations of civilian casualties from the Taliban-led government. According to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, Pakistani airstrikes have targeted areas including Kabul, Kandarhar, and Paktika, with claims of a hospital in Kabul being hit, resulting in over 400 deaths and 250 injuries.
Basit’s tenure in India saw him navigate a period of complex bilateral relations. He entered Pakistan’s Foreign Service in 1982, holding significant positions in Pakistani embassies worldwide. Prior to his assignment in New Delhi, he served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Germany from May 2012 to March 2014. His familiarity with India’s major metropolitan areas, having resided in the capital, appears to inform the severity of his recent statement.
The timing of Basit’s remarks coincides with a significant deterioration in relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistani airstrikes, purportedly targeting militant groups, have been met with strong condemnation from the Taliban, who allege attacks on civilian infrastructure. Mujahid has labeled the strikes a violation of Afghanistan’s airspace and a crime against humanity. Senior editors, like Basit in his current role, often shape public discourse, and his comments carry weight given his previous diplomatic position.
The escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan follows a series of cross-border incidents and accusations of harboring militant groups. Although Pakistani officials maintain the strikes are aimed at eliminating terrorist threats, the Taliban government insists they target civilians. The situation remains volatile, with the potential for further escalation. The role of a senior editor, as highlighted by the American Association of Finance, includes upholding editorial integrity, a standard seemingly absent in Basit’s recent pronouncements.
Basit’s suggestion of nuclear retaliation, even within a hypothetical framework, raises serious concerns about regional stability and nuclear proliferation. The statement has not yet drawn an official response from the Pakistani government, leaving unanswered questions about its stance on the former diplomat’s views. The international community is watching closely as tensions continue to mount along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and the implications of Basit’s rhetoric reverberate throughout the region.