Latest news with #sabrerattling
Arab News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan denies nuclear threat claims, says India misrepresenting army chief's US remarks
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's defense minister on Monday dismissed Indian accusations of 'sabre-rattling,' saying New Delhi's claims about alleged nuclear threats by the Pakistani army chief were baseless and reflected domestic political pressures on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The comments followed a statement by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) accusing Pakistan of 'sabre-rattling' and 'irresponsibility' after media reports claimed Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir had hinted at the possible use of nuclear weapons during a speech in Florida, framing it as a warning to New Delhi in light of recent military tensions. Indian officials argued that such comments, if accurate, amounted to 'nuclear sabre-rattling' — a term used to describe provocative or threatening language about deploying nuclear arms — and said it was particularly irresponsible to make them while abroad in a 'friendly third country.' Munir was said to have spoken at a black-tie dinner hosted by a Pakistani-origin businessman in Florida on Saturday, attended by more than 100 guests. An excerpt of his speech shared by Pakistani security officials did not contain any such remarks, while Pakistan's foreign office said the Indian MEA's statement was 'yet another demonstration of their chronic tendency to distorting facts and twisting statements out of context.' 'This is a totally baseless thing, [they] are trying to make an issue [out of Munir's remarks],' Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said in an interview to a private news channel. 'These things reflect one thing… internally, Modi has been devastated, with no reputation left.' Asif said Modi was under intense pressure following the outcome of a four-day military standoff between India and Pakistan in May, as well as an increase in US tariffs linked to New Delhi's purchase of Russian crude oil. India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed neighbors with a history of wars and border clashes, fought their deadliest battle in decades in May after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 26 civilians. The skirmish quickly escalated into aerial combat. Pakistan claimed its air force used Chinese-built J-10C fighter jets to shoot down six Indian aircraft, including three French-made Rafales. Last week, Indian Air Chief A.P. Singh said his country had also downed six Pakistani jets, which Islamabad denies. In the interview on Monday, Asif warned that Modi's political troubles could prompt risky military moves: 'He could resort to something which is, which could, you know, amount to a war, amount to something desperate in this region.' In its statement, the Indian MEA described 'nuclear sabre-rattling' as Pakistan's 'stock-in-trade,' and said it was 'regrettable that the reported remarks have been made while in a friendly third country.' The version of Munir's speech released by Pakistani officials read: 'The (Indian) aggression has brought the region to the brink of a dangerously escalating war, where a bilateral conflict due to any miscalculation will be a grave mistake.' Pakistan's foreign office rejected India's allegations as 'a misleading and self-serving construct,' saying: 'Pakistan remains firmly opposed to the use or threat of use of force. India's sabre-rattling and war mongering, whenever confronted, invite unfounded allegations bereft of rationality.'
Arab News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan denies India's ‘sabre rattling' allegations, vows ‘matching response' to aggression
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's foreign office on Monday rejected Indian allegations of 'sabre rattling' as misleading, promising a 'matching response' to any aggression by New Delhi. India's ministry of external affairs (MEA) accused Pakistan of 'sabre rattling' and 'irresponsibility' after media reports on remarks about nuclear threats in South Asia made by Pakistan's army chief while on a visit to the United States (US). Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir was said to have made the remarks at a black-tie dinner hosted by a Pakistani-origin businessman in Florida on Saturday, where he spoke to a crowd of more than 100 people. An excerpt of his speech shared by Pakistani security officials did not include such remarks, while the foreign office in Islamabad said the Indian MEA's statement was yet another demonstration of their 'chronic tendency to distorting facts and twisting statements out of context.' 'The Indian narrative of an alleged 'nuclear blackmail' is a misleading and self-serving construct,' it said in a statement. 'Pakistan remains firmly opposed to the use or threat of use of force. India's sabre rattling and war mongering, whenever confronted, invite unfounded allegations bereft of rationality.' India and Pakistan both possess nuclear weapons and fought their deadliest battle in decades in May, sparked by an attack on tourists the previous month in Indian-administer Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. 'Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade,' Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson of India's MEA, said, adding that it was regrettable that the reported remarks have been made while in a friendly third country. 'The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks.' In a version of the speech shared by Pakistani security officials, Munir said: 'The (Indian) aggression has brought the region to the brink of a dangerously escalating war, where a bilateral conflict due to any miscalculation will be a grave mistake.' The Pakistani army chief was on a visit to the US to attend a farewell event for General Michael Kurilla, the 15th commander of the United States Central Command. India previously lodged a private diplomatic protest with Washington when President Donald Trump hosted Munir for a lunch at the White House in June. In its statement on Monday, the foreign office said Pakistan is a responsible nuclear weapon state with an elaborate command and control structure under full civilian control, and it has always exercised discipline and restraint while dealing with the issues of such importance. 'The Indian MEA's spurious insinuations are irresponsible and without a shred of evidence,' it said. 'We also note with concern a pointless reference to the third countries, in a bid to exert pressure on Pakistan. This not only reflects India's lack of diplomatic confidence but also constitutes a futile attempt to unnecessarily involve other countries.' Some analysts believe that India's disagreement with Washington over the May 10 ceasefire with Pakistan, and Trump's renewed engagement with Islamabad, have contributed to a recent setback in ties between New Delhi and Washington under the Trump administration. Pakistan shall continue to act as a responsible member of the comity of nations, its foreign office reiterated. 'However, any act of Indian aggression or violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity will be met with an immediate and matching response,' it said. 'The onus of any ensuing escalation will rest squarely with the Indian leadership.'
Reuters
4 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
India decries 'sabre rattling' after Pakistan army chief's reported nuclear remarks
NEW DELHI, Aug 11 (Reuters) - India on Monday accused its neighbour Pakistan of "sabre rattling" and "irresponsibility" after media reports on remarks about nuclear threats in South Asia made by Pakistan's army chief while on a visit to the United States. Indian media reports, citing sources, quoted Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir as saying: "We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we'll take half the world down with us". An excerpt of his speech shared by Pakistani security officials did not include the "nuclear nation" remarks. "Pakistan is a responsible nuclear weapon state with an elaborate command and control structure under full civilian control," a statement from Pakistan's foreign office said. "It has always exercised discipline and restraint, while dealing with the issues of such importance." Munir reportedly made the remarks at a black-tie dinner hosted by a Pakistani-origin businessman in Florida on Saturday, where he spoke to a crowd of more than 100 people. Reuters could not independently verify the remarks. India and Pakistan both possess nuclear weapons and fought their deadliest battle in decades in May, sparked by an attack on tourists the previous month in Indian Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India's foreign ministry, said: "Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade," adding: "The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks." He said it was also regrettable that the reported remarks should have been made while in a friendly third country. In a version of the speech shared by Pakistani security officials, Munir said: "The (Indian) aggression has brought the region to the brink of a dangerously escalating war, where a bilateral conflict due to any miscalculation will be a grave mistake." Munir was on a visit to the U.S. to attend a farewell event for General Michael Kurilla, the 15th commander of the United States Central Command. India previously lodged a private diplomatic protest with Washington when President Donald Trump hosted Munir for a lunch at the White House in June. Analysts have said that India's disagreement with Washington over the May 10 ceasefire with Pakistan, and Trump's renewed engagement with Islamabad, have contributed to a recent setback in ties between India and the U.S. under the Trump administration.
