India Slams Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir’s Nuclear Threats, Says Will Not Yield to Blackmail

India has strongly condemned recent nuclear threats made by Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir, calling them irresponsible and dangerous. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday said such remarks reinforce long-standing concerns about the safety and integrity of Pakistan’s nuclear command and its close ties to terrorist groups.

Speaking at a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “It is regrettable that such statements were made from the soil of a friendly third country like the United States. Nuclear sabre-rattling has become Pakistan’s stock-in-trade.”

Munir, who was elevated to the rank of field marshal following a brief military escalation with India in May, reportedly told a gathering of the Pakistani diaspora in Florida that Pakistan could resort to using nuclear weapons against India in a future conflict. He allegedly added that the country’s missiles could also target dams built by India on cross-border rivers, particularly after the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

The comments, reportedly made at a private dinner hosted by a Pakistani businessman in Tampa, Florida, have sparked serious concern. Munir was in the US for his second visit since June, during which he also attended a leadership transition ceremony at the US Central Command. While Pakistan’s military acknowledged his interaction with the diaspora, it provided no details about his controversial remarks.

In response, India reiterated its commitment to national security and its refusal to be intimidated. “India has already made it clear that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail. We will continue to take all necessary steps to safeguard our national security,” Jaiswal said.

Officials familiar with the matter noted that Munir’s comments reflect a pattern of reckless nuclear brinkmanship by Pakistan. "This is yet another example of why Pakistan is widely seen as an irresponsible nuclear-armed state," one official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The international community should take note of the danger posed when nuclear weapons are in the hands of a military establishment that is unaccountable and deeply intertwined with extremist groups.”

They also pointed out that such statements are especially concerning given Pakistan’s history of supporting cross-border terrorism. “When a military that holds the nuclear button also orchestrates terror attacks, the global risk is immense,” said the official.

There are growing concerns that international leniency towards Pakistan, particularly from the US, may embolden its military leadership. “Support from powerful allies often precedes these provocative statements, raising the risk of further destabilization in the region,” the official added.

Citing the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 — where militants killed 25 men after identifying them by religion — officials recalled that it occurred just days after Munir publicly referred to Jammu and Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and claimed Hindus and Muslims could not live together. The timing of these events has led some to fear that Munir’s latest remarks may be a prelude to further violence.

In response to the Pahalgam attack, India launched **Operation Sindoor** on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territory. The conflict lasted four days, involving the use of drones, missiles, and long-range weaponry from both sides. Hostilities ceased on May 10 after an agreement was reached, but the Indian government has maintained that Operation Sindoor remains ongoing.

Indian officials emphasized that Pakistan’s military, which wields considerable influence over the country's civilian government, continues to be the central driver of instability in South Asia. “What we are witnessing is not just rhetorical aggression but an institutional pattern of threatening behavior, often followed by violent action,” an official said.

India has urged the international community to take a firmer stance and hold Pakistan accountable for provocative and destabilizing rhetoric, especially when tied to its nuclear arsenal.