“We will attack India without a second thought”, ex-Pak envoy Abdul Basit’s remark triggers controversy

A controversy has erupted after former Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit said that Pakistan would target major Indian cities if the United States were to attack Pakistan. Speaking during a discussion on a hypothetical conflict scenario, Basit suggested that Islamabad could strike India in response to a US military action.

During the discussion, Basit said that if the United States attacked Pakistan, the country would have to retaliate by targeting India, specifically naming New Delhi and Mumbai. He stated that such an action would be carried out “without a second thought,” arguing that Pakistan might not be able to directly strike the United States due to range limitations.

Although Basit described the situation as a “worst-case scenario” and acknowledged that such a conflict was unlikely, his remarks quickly drew attention for explicitly mentioning possible strikes on Indian cities. The comments circulated widely and triggered debate over the implications of such rhetoric in an already tense regional environment.

Basit served as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India from 2014 to 2017, and his previous diplomatic role has added weight to the controversy surrounding his statement. India has not officially responded to the remarks so far, while the comments continue to generate reactions and discussion about regional security dynamics.