ISLAMABAD: A provocative statement by Union Minister Ramdas Athawale hasignited fresh debate on India-Pakistan relations, asserting that Pakistanwould have been completely destroyed if Prime Minister Narendra Modi hadchosen full-scale war. Responding to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s recentremarks urging bold operations against terror masterminds in Pakistan,Athawale highlighted India’s military restraint despite provocations. Thisexchange underscores escalating rhetorical tensions between the twonuclear-armed neighbours, raising questions about potential escalation inan already volatile region.
The controversy stems from Owaisi’s comparison of United States actions inVenezuela to possible Indian operations in Pakistan. Owaisi suggested thatif President Donald Trump could capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro,Prime Minister Modi could similarly retrieve perpetrators of the 2008Mumbai attacks harboured in Pakistan. Athawale countered emphatically,stating that India’s response to recent incidents, including OperationSindoor following the Pahalgam attack, demonstrated measured retaliation byeliminating over 100 terrorists without pursuing total conflict.
Athawale emphasised Prime Minister Modi’s preference for peace, referencingModi’s recent declaration that India seeks enlightenment, not war. Heargued that Modi’s decision to avoid all-out war preserved Pakistan’sexistence, implying India’s superior military capability could haveoverwhelmed its neighbour. India’s conventional military advantage,including a larger active force of approximately 1.4 million personnelcompared to Pakistan’s 650,000, supported by advanced indigenous andimported weaponry systems.
Since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which killed 166 people, India has conductedsurgical strikes in 2016 and airstrikes in 2019, targeting terror campswithout invading Pakistani territory. Operation Sindoor, launched after thePahalgam incident claiming 26 lives, reportedly neutralised significantthreats while avoiding broader confrontation, reflecting a strategy ofproportional deterrence amid nuclear risks.
Owaisi’s provocative analogy drew from recent United States operationscapturing Maduro on charges related to narco-terrorism. By urging similarextraterritorial action against figures like Masood Azhar, Owaisi aimed topressure the government on unresolved terror cases. However, suchsuggestions risk inflaming nationalist sentiments, as evidenced byAthawale’s retort portraying Modi as a leader exercising strategic patiencerather than weakness.
Military analysts note that while India holds advantages in troop numbers,any full-scale war carries catastrophic risks due to mutual nuclearcapabilities. Pakistan possesses an estimated 170 warheads, while India hasaround 172, according to 2025 Stockholm International Peace ResearchInstitute data. Both nations’ doctrines allow first use under certainconditions, making de-escalation critical in crises.
The exchange highlights domestic political dynamics, with Athawale, acoalition ally, defending the government’s approach against oppositioncriticism. Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen often adoptshardline stances on security issues affecting minorities, positioningitself as a vocal advocate for decisive action against Pakistan-basedterrorism.
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Broader implications include strained bilateral ties, with no high-leveldialogue since 2015 and trade suspended post-2019. Recent incidents havefurther eroded trust, prompting international calls for restraint frompowers like the United States and China. Analysts warn that inflammatoryrhetoric could undermine diplomatic efforts to isolate terror sponsorsglobally.
As tensions simmer, the statements from Athawale and Owaisi reflect deeperfrustrations over persistent cross-border threats. While India’s militaryposture deters aggression, the nuclear shadow ensures that leaders on bothsides tread carefully, prioritising stability over confrontation in SouthAsia’s fragile security landscape.
Source:https://aninews.in/news/national/general-news/pakistan-would-have-been-wiped-clean-if-pm-modi-wanted-war-union-minister-ramdas-athawale-on-owaisis-remark20260104220154/
Tags: India, Pakistan, Narendra Modi, Asaduddin Owaisi, Ramdas Athawale,Operation Sindoor, Pahalgam Attack
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