BJP Hits Back After Former Pak Envoy Basit Threatens Nuclear Strike on Indian Cities

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday launched a sharp attack on former Pakistani diplomat Abdul Basit over his remarks suggesting a nuclear strike on Indian cities, saying the comments reflected that Pakistan “cannot survive without terrorism".

The controversy erupted after Basit, a former High Commissioner of Pakistan to India, said in an interview that in a hypothetical situation where the United States attempted to dismantle Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities, Islamabad would have no option but to target cities like New Delhi and Mumbai. His statement triggered strong reactions from Indian political leaders.

Responding to the remarks, BJP national spokesperson Tuhin Sinha said the comments showed that Pakistan remained “rattled” and accused it of having a mindset driven by terrorism. He added that such statements indicate a pattern of provocative rhetoric from across the border, reinforcing India’s long-standing concerns over its neighbour’s intentions.

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Sinha also referred to past remarks by Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, alleging threats against critical infrastructure in India, and said the repeated use of such language demonstrates that “terrorism is ingrained” in Pakistan’s approach. According to him, these developments further underline the need for vigilance.

Basit’s comments came in response to observations by Tulsi Gabbard, who, in a recent threat assessment, flagged Pakistan’s missile programme as a potential concern. Defending his country’s position, Basit argued that Pakistan’s nuclear deterrence is primarily aimed at India and criticised what he described as an “anti-Pakistan worldview".

He also questioned the strategic dynamics between Washington and Islamabad, suggesting that the United States shares a stronger partnership with India. Basit added that in an extreme scenario involving external threats to Pakistan’s nuclear assets or regional escalation, targeting Indian cities could be seen as a default response, a claim that has drawn strong condemnation in India.

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