News Desk: A sharp escalation in rhetoric has emerged from Islamabad after a controversial statement by former Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, who warned that Delhi and Mumbai could be targeted (bombed) if the United States attempts to strike Pakistan’s nuclear assets.
Basit’s remarks, made during a recent discussion on strategic tensions, come amid heightened global scrutiny of Pakistan’s nuclear and missile capabilities. He suggested that any US move to neutralise Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal would trigger a retaliatory response with far-reaching consequences, invoking India’s major cities in the scenario.
🚨 Former Pak envoy Abdul Basit issues warning to India.
Basit claims India could face 26/11-style attacks if the US and Israel ever strike Pakistan or its nuclear facilities😳
=> Their only fear is India. Sick Qaum
pic.twitter.com/iG5JnHfPAy— The Analyzer (News Updates🗞️) (@Indian_Analyzer) March 21, 2026
US concern over Pakistan’s nuclear capability
The statement follows the latest US intelligence assessment, where Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard flagged Pakistan as a potential nuclear concern, citing its continued development of long-range missile systems capable of expanding its strategic reach.
Washington’s concerns have added a new dimension to South Asia’s already fragile deterrence dynamics, placing Pakistan’s arsenal under renewed international focus.
Islamabad pushes back
Pakistan has rejected the US assessment, maintaining that its nuclear weapons are defensive in nature and primarily aimed at deterring India. Officials in Islamabad have repeatedly asserted that their strategic programme is responsible and safeguarded.
Rhetoric sparks concern
Basit’s remarks have drawn attention for linking a hypothetical US strike to potential attacks on Indian cities—an assertion analysts view as highly escalatory and reflective of nuclear brinkmanship in the region.
Security experts warn that such statements, even if theoretical, risk inflaming regional tensions and complicating already sensitive geopolitical equations involving India, Pakistan, and the United States.
No official reaction yet from India
There has been no immediate response from New Delhi. However, India has consistently raised concerns over Pakistan’s nuclear track record, particularly in the context of proliferation and regional security.
The big picture
The episode underscores how nuclear signalling remains deeply embedded in South Asia’s strategic discourse, where even rhetorical assertions can amplify tensions. As global powers sharpen their focus on nuclear risks, statements like these highlight the delicate balance sustaining deterrence in the region.
