Asim Munir threatens Ambani: Was it a move to woo Trump?

India Today

5 days ago

Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir reportedly made a direct threat against one of India's most powerful business tycoons, Mukesh Ambani, while on U.S. soil. This incident, which took place at a black-tie event, is being viewed by some as a calculated move with a larger goal: to please U.S. President Donald Trump. In a closed-door address in Tampa, Field Marshal Asim Munir, the Pakistan Army chief, reportedly threatened to target Mukesh Ambani's Jamnagar refinery. Munir is said to have referenced a social media image pairing Ambani's photo with a Quranic verse during recent hostilities, stating, 'I authorised that post to show them what we will do the next time.'advertisement
For those unfamiliar with the significance, Reliance is one of the pillars of the Indian economy, driving sectors from energy to infrastructure. The timing of the alleged threat is crucial. With India's Prime Minister Modi standing firm against the U.S. trade demands and Reliance being a major refiner of Russian crude oil, the threat was not just about one man. It was, some argue, an attack on India's economic sovereignty.The alleged connection to Donald Trump stems from the belief that his signature 'tariff tantrum' against China has proven ineffective. His Vice President, JD Vance, admitted that the situation with China is 'complicated.' Speaking to Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures, Vance confirmed that tariffs on China are 'on the table' but stressed no decision has been made. 'The president said he's thinking about it, but he hasn't made any firm decisions,' Vance said. 'The China issue is a little bit more complicated because our relationship affects a lot of other things that have nothing to do with the Russian situation.'This is most likely due to the U.S.'s heavy reliance on Chinese imports for critical items, including defence components. Moreover, China holds a staggering 750 billion dollars plus in the U.S. Treasury bonds, which is a massive leverage point. With China proving too difficult a target, the focus, it seems, has shifted to India.The threat against Ambani is framed as the latest and most brazen tactic in a long-running campaign to pressure India. According to this viewpoint, even the U.S. designation of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a terror group is part of the same strategy: to irk India and woo Pakistan with the promise of access to Balochistan's mineral resources. This narrative gained more traction recently when, in a joint statement, the U.S. State Department 'applauded Pakistan's continued successes in containing terrorist entities that pose a threat to the peace and security of the region and the world.' This is being seen by some as a clear sign of Washington's efforts to strengthen ties with Islamabad.Ultimately, the threat from Pakistan's Field Marshal is viewed as a desperate show of loyalty to the U.S. President. It was not just about an individual; it was about using a rival nation to create political leverage. But with India's leadership standing firm and its economy strong, this strategy may prove to be just as complicated as the one facing China. These events reveal a new, unconventional playbook in international diplomacy, where allies are pressured and rivals are used to achieve domestic political goals.- Ends