Why Asim Munir chose the US for his nuclear threat to half the world

India Today

14 hours ago

The Pakistan Army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is back to doing what he does best, issuing hate-filled threats towards India to secure his position as the supreme authority of the failing Islamic Republic. In his latest outburst, delivered during a private dinner on US soil, Munir said, "We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we'll take half the world down with us." With this, Munir not only reinforced the fact that nuclear weapons remain in the hands of an irresponsible state, but also expanded his nuclear threat from targeting just India to encompassing "South Asia", or rather, "half the world". But more than the threat itself, it is important from where it was issued — the US.advertisementMunir's nuclear threat came on the day the world marked the 80th anniversary of the US dropping an atomic bomb on Nagasaki in 1945. The American atom bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed 170,000 people by the end of the year.On his second US visit in two months, at a time of warming US-Pakistan relations — with Washington hailing Islamabad as a "phenomenal partner" and the Trump regime looking to tap Pakistan's non-existent energy reserves — Munir's threats from the US are significant.
The remark stood in stark contrast to the spirit of regional peace, and the fact that Munir could make it in the US, India's strategic partner, hints at a troubling shift in Washington's posture towards India under Trump and his administration.As columnist and satirist Kamlesh Singh put it, "Important ye nahin hai ki Munir bhaunka, important ye hai ki Munir Trump ke compound se bhaunka". What's important is the threat was made in the US, not that Munir "barked".So, why did Munir choose the US to deliver the nuclear threat?MUNIR IS LEVERAGING US-PAKISTAN TIES FOR STRATEGIC MESSAGINGMunir's choice of the US as the stage for his provocative remarks appears calculated, and is driven by the recent upswing in US-Pakistan relations under President Donald Trump.On June 18, Munir was hosted for a rare White House luncheon, a gesture typically reserved for heads of state. This was a signal of a renewed US interest in Pakistan, and the recognition of the military as its power centre.His latest visit, followed by his attendance at the retirement ceremony of US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Michael Kurilla in Tampa, provided Munir with a platform to project what's left of Pakistan's military might to both domestic and international audiences.Munir's latest nuclear threat was made in front of the Pakistani diaspora in the US. A few months earlier, when Munir said that Kashmir was Pakistan's "jugular vein" and said that "Hindus and Muslims are different", he was also addressing the diaspora, but that time, in Pakistan."Mullah Munir's rant from American soil is not surprising. From Ayub to Zia and from Musharraf to Munir, each one thought the Yanks are their true friends, only to find sooner than later, being placed in the 'use and throw' category. But the main reason for his nuclear sabre-rattling is India calling Pakistan's nuclear bluff in Operation Sindoor," Security analyst Nitin A Gokhale posted on X.advertisementGokhale suggested Munir's threats were a response to India's bold military strikes during Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan and even reportedly hit the Kairana Hills, the storehouses of the country's nuclear warheads in a symbolic message.MUNIR'S N-THREAT IS SIGNAL TO DOMESTIC HAWKS, INDIAMunir's remarks also seem designed to reassure hardliners in Pakistan, where his leadership faces scrutiny amid economic and political instability.By invoking Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, Munir probably aimed to project "its strength" and deter India from further military actions like Operation Sindoor.Rishap Vats, a strategic affairs commentator and political science lecturer, wrote on X, saying, "Munir's speech in America was primarily aimed at raising the nuclear spectre in the West, while signalling to India that they have more to lose economically, a framing that is often put to use by 'restrainers' in Delhi."Vats pointed to Munir's attempt to exploit a growing India's economic vulnerabilities, contrasting it with Pakistan, which the field marshal reportedly called a "dump truck full of gravel" with India's "shining Mercedes" in a crude analogy meant to highlight New Delhi's economic stakes in a potential conflict.advertisement"I am going to use a crude analogy to explain the situation... India is shining Mercedes coming on a highway like Ferrari [sic], but we are a dump truck full of gravel. If the truck hits the car, who is going to be the loser?" Munir was quoted as saying in the US by The Print.Major General PK Sehgal (retired), a defence expert, has emphasised the recklessness of such rhetoric."Asim Munir knows that a nuclear weapon is a weapon of deterrence and will in no way be used. If Pakistan, even by mistake, uses nuclear weapons, it will be a catastrophe for all continents, but for Pakistan, it will be physical suicide. Pakistan's very existence will be wiped out," Sehgal told news agency PTI, underscoring the risks of Munir's brinkmanship. Sehgal's statement also suggested Munir's N-threat was more about posturing than intent.MUNIR IS EXPLOITING US-INDIA TENSIONSThe timing of Munir's threat aligns with strained US-India relations, which have been exacerbated by Trump's imposition of a 50% tariff on Indian imports and criticism of India's trade policies and continued purchase of Russian oil.advertisementMunir joked that Pakistan could give "masterclasses" on balancing rival powers, making fun of India's diplomatic vulnerabilities while getting closer to the Trump administration.Pranay Kotasthane, a policy analyst and deputy director at the Takshashila Institute, summed up the Munir-threat saying, "This is nuts"."Field Marshal Munir, while in the US, has declared 'we are a nuclear nation, if we think we are going down, we'll take half the world down with us' ... even as Trump is desperately angling for a Nobel Peace Prize for stopping a nuclear war. US gets played again," Kotasthane wrote on X, suggesting Munir is exploiting Trump's desire for diplomatic wins to amplify Pakistan's strategic relevance.Munir's decision to issue nuclear threats from US soil is a high-stakes move, where he's banking on the Trump administration's favourable disposition toward Pakistan. The presence of top US military officials, including General Dan Caine, at the Tampa event, and the US's affirmation of Pakistan as a key partner for "nuclear security in South Asia", may also have emboldened Munir.However, Munir's remarks also risk backfiring by reinforcing the perception of Pakistan as an unstable and irresponsible nuclear power. But why would Munir care? He has already compared Pakistan to a "dump truck full of gravel".- EndsMust Watch