If US Attacks, We Will Strike Delhi And Mumbai: Former Pakistani Ambassador Abdul Basit

Lahore: Amidst the crisis in the Middle East, Abdul Basit, a former senior Pakistani diplomat, has issued a threat to attack India. Abdul Basit previously served as Pakistan's High Commissioner to India. During a television debate, he issued a hollow threat to attack India in retaliation for a potential US strike. He stated that in a worst-case scenario—should the United States launch an attack—Pakistan would have no option but to strike India, even if India were not a party to the conflict. This statement of his is facing severe condemnation on social media.

What did Abdul Basit say?

Speaking to a Pakistani television channel, Abdul Basit highlighted the strategic vacuum facing Islamabad. He remarked, "Imagine if the United States and Israel were to jointly launch a similar attack against us. We currently do not possess missiles capable of reaching the United States or Israel. What path do you think would be the best option for us? India—we would attack Delhi and Mumbai." Basit also offered a rationale to support this assertion. He argued, "While Pakistan may be unable to target its other adversaries, it is certainly capable of striking India's metropolitan centers." Basit, who served as Pakistan's Ambassador to India from 2014 to 2017, identified India as Pakistan's "default target" under any and all circumstances.

It is worth noting that this statement by Basit serves as an indication of how Indian citizens are viewed by Pakistan—namely, as instruments of leverage. By specifically naming Mumbai and New Delhi, Basit not only evokes memories of terrorist attacks such as 26/11 but also demonstrates that India remains the primary target for Pakistan's military frustrations.

What did  Abdul Basit Say Regarding India?

During a TV debate with ABN News, Abdul Basit stated, "Let us assume that the situation in Iran deteriorates, and Israel establishes a presence right in our neighborhood. Suppose a scenario arises where the United States views our nuclear program with hostility—or even attempts to dismantle our nuclear capabilities—which, of course, is impossible. However—and I am speaking here of a worst-case scenario, albeit an improbable one, given that Pakistan possesses the requisite capability to defend itself—what if such circumstances were to emerge that the United States launched an attack on Pakistan? If the U.S. lies beyond the strike range of our nuclear arsenal, and if we are unable to reach their bases situated within the region, nor are we able to strike at Israel, then what recourse would remain open to us? India."

Why did Abdul Basit make this statement?

According to a report by News18, intelligence sources believe that Basit's statements were neither spontaneous nor made in an offhand manner. Instead, these remarks reflect the "indoctrinated" mindset of the Pakistani military establishment. Given his status as a former senior diplomat, he is being perceived as a mouthpiece for the military's strategic thinking. His advocacy for "killing people wherever one pleases" within India offers a glimpse into a long-standing jihadi mindset that has consistently targeted India's sovereignty.

It is worth noting that this statement from Pakistan comes at a time when Tulsi Gabbard—a key figure in U.S. intelligence circles—has identified Pakistan as a greater threat to Washington's security than Iran. She stated that, in its focus on Iran, the U.S. often overlooks the fact that situated right in Iran's neighborhood is a nation plagued by Islamic radicalism, possessing nuclear capabilities, and actively developing missiles capable of striking the United States. This constitutes a grave danger.

What has Benjamin Netanyahu said?

Furthermore, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also publicly asserted on multiple occasions that, following Iran, Pakistan poses the single greatest threat to the world. Consequently—now that an attack on Iran has taken place—an atmosphere of apprehension has begun to prevail within Pakistan as well.

This is not the first instance in which Pakistan has issued statements targeting India. In the past, Pakistan has gone so far as to threaten the use of nuclear weapons against India. However, it conveniently forgets that India possesses the capability to deploy nuclear weapons from all three domains: land, air, and sea. Moreover, India's air defense system is exceptionally robust.