Field Marshal Asim Munir, the head of Pakistan’s army, recently threatened India with nuclear war, saying that if Pakistan ever had an existential crisis in a confrontation with India, it would destroy half of the planet. Munir made these remarks during a high-profile event held in Tampa, Florida, marking the retirement of General Michael Kurilla, the outgoing commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM).
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According to reports, Munir said, “We are a nuclear nation, if we think we are going down, we’ll take half the world down with us.” This is a clear warning of how far Pakistan might go in any future conflict involving India. What makes this especially notable is that such threats were delivered from US soil — something unprecedented in diplomatic or military history concerning third countries.
Munir also specifically targeted India’s water infrastructure, threatening to destroy dam projects planned on the Indus River. He claimed that after the dams were built, Pakistan will launch missiles at them. According to his own words, “We will wait for India to construct a dam, and once it does, we will use ten missiles to destroy it.” The Indians are not the owners of the Indus River. (Thank God, we have an abundance of missiles.) “Humein missilon ki kami nahin hai.”
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This threat highlights the importance of the Indus River to both countries and the potential dangers of escalating tensions in the region. The Indus is a vital water source, and any attack on its dams could have serious consequences downstream.
Context of the Conflict and Background
Munir’s threats come after a tense period of conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2024. The conflict started after India launched precision strikes on terrorist camps and locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), and it lasted for four days, from May 7 to May 10. India dubbed this military engagement Operation Sindoor.
India launched this operation in reaction to a horrific terror assault on April 22 at a popular tourist destination in Jammu & Kashmir’s Baisaran valley. The attack claimed the lives of 26 people. Authorities identified The Resistance Front (TRF) as the group responsible. TRF is linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a terrorist organization based in Pakistan and listed by the United Nations Security Council.
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Since then, Pakistan’s military and political leaders have issued repeated nuclear threats toward India, but Munir’s recent remarks are among the most direct and alarming. India has consistently dismissed these threats, standing firm on its defense capabilities.
To explain the state of affairs between the two nations, Munir employed a potent metaphor. “India is like a Mercedes on a highway, but we are just a gravel-filled dump truck,” he remarked. Who will lose if the truck collides with the car? This analogy suggests Pakistan views itself as a strong, unavoidable force that can cause serious damage despite its own vulnerabilities.
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Businessman and honorary consul of Pakistan, Adnan Asad, sponsored a black-tie dinner in Tampa where the nuclear threats were made. Dignitaries from various nations, including a representative from the Israeli Defense Forces, attended the event along with more than 120 members of the Pakistani diaspora.
The hosts served exclusively Halal meat and designed the event with an Islamic theme. The organizers recited As-Saf verse 4, which honors those who battle valiantly as a united front, before the event began. During the event, the attendees also played Pakistan’s national anthem.
In addition to the nuclear threats, Munir showed the audience a picture of Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani, warning India of potential future actions. He mentioned sending a tweet with Surah Fil, a chapter from the Quran that talks about divine punishment against enemies in battle, using the imagery to imply destruction.
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Munir also spoke about the concept of sportsmanship in war, urging India to accept losses openly. If India did the same, he would reveal Pakistan’s military defeats. He stated, “The Indians should accept their losses. Sportsman spirit is a virtue.”
Munir further emphasized Pakistan’s military role in politics, stating that politicians cannot handle politics alone because it is too serious, and he implied that the military must take part in key national decisions.