Michael Kugelman backs India's tough stance amid US tariff and Pakistan threat
Kugelman noted that India is likely exploring ways around the tariffs. 'It will be significant for New Delhi to step up and conclude new trade deals with other key export destinations such as the EU, and we know that there have been talks between the two recently,' he noted.Such deals, he added, could 'reduce the potential danger the tariffs could pose' by giving Indian exporters better access to other high-value markets.Addressing Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir's reported nuclear threat, Kugelman said the remarks were made at a private, off-the-record event.'Since Operation Sindoor, Pakistan's position has been that it supports peace and that India is the aggressor,' Kugelman said. 'These comments cut against that narrative. They also show how concerned Pakistan's leadership is about India's decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, which is a non-military but punitive step.'Kugelman added that Munir's words appear to reaffirm Pakistan's long-standing rejection of a No First Use policy on nuclear weapons.'Based on what the army chief seemed to suggest about Pakistan's threat to use nuclear weapons if it has to, it reasserts Pakistan's position of rejecting a No First Use Policy,' he said.His remarks follow Munir's comments in Florida, where the army chief reportedly warned that Pakistan could use nuclear weapons to take down India and 'half the world' in an existential conflict.'It reflects how concerned Pakistanis are, including the very top, about India's decision to hold the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance,' he said.'Based on what the army chief seemed to suggest it seems to reassert Pakistan's long-time position of rejecting a No First Use Policy when it comes to nuclear weapons,' Kugelman added. His remarks follow Munir's comments in Florida, where the army chief reportedly warned that Pakistan could use nuclear weapons to take down India and 'half the world' in an existential conflict.- EndsWith inputs from ANI
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