ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief has accused India of persistently “creating instability in the region” and warned that any act of aggression from New Delhi would be met with a “crushing response,” Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing statements from Pakistani military officials.
These comments come less than three months after the deadliest conflict between Pakistan and India in decades — a four-day clash in May involving air, drone, and missile strikes, along with artillery and small arms fire along their shared border. The confrontation was triggered by an attack on April 22 in Indian-administered Kashmir, where gunmen killed 26 civilians. India accused Pakistan of orchestrating the assault, a charge Islamabad denies.
“India continues its efforts to destabilize the region,” General Asim Munir said on Friday during a dinner with members of the Pakistani diaspora in Florida, marking his second visit to the US within two months, according to Bloomberg, which quoted unnamed military sources.
“Pakistan has clearly stated that any Indian aggression will receive a crushing response.”
Pakistan’s military released details of Munir’s remarks in the US after the Indian news outlet ThePrint published contentious excerpts. The report claimed the general threatened to target any dam India builds on the Indus River with multiple missiles and warned of nuclear conflict risks. ThePrint cited unnamed attendees and said recording devices and phones were banned at the event.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded on Monday, accusing Pakistan of a history of “nuclear sabre-rattling” and questioning the reliability of its nuclear command and control system. The ministry also noted that the comments were made from a “friendly third country” and insisted that India would not succumb to “nuclear blackmail.”
Relations between the two countries — which have fought three wars and numerous skirmishes since their partition in 1947 — remain highly strained. Bloomberg reported that Pakistan has recently strengthened ties with former US President Donald Trump, while India’s relationship with Washington has cooled.
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Munir expressed gratitude to Trump for helping to end the May hostilities, stating:
“Pakistan is deeply thankful to President Trump, whose strategic leadership not only prevented a war between India and Pakistan but also helped halt many ongoing global conflicts.”
Indian officials have rejected any such role played by the former US leader.
Over the weekend, India’s air force chief claimed that Indian forces had shot down at least five Pakistani fighter jets during the May clashes, providing new details on the damage sustained. Pakistan denied losing any aircraft and asserted it had downed at least five Indian jets.