‘We’ll Bomb Delhi, Mumbai if US Targets Our Nukes’: Pakistan’s Former Envoy to India
New Delhi/Mumbai, March 22, 2026 — In a provocative television interview, Abdul Basit, Pakistan’s former High Commissioner to India (2014–2017), has sparked alarm by declaring that Pakistan would target major Indian cities including Delhi and Mumbai in the event of a US or Israeli strike on its nuclear assets.
Speaking on a Pakistani channel amid escalating tensions in West Asia involving the US, Israel, and Iran, Basit outlined a hypothetical worst-case scenario. He argued that if the United States attacked Pakistan and targeted its nuclear programme — a situation he described as unlikely but possible — Pakistan would be unable to strike American or Israeli targets directly due to range limitations. In such circumstances, he said, India would become the “default” or “only option.”
“What route do you think will be good for us? India,” Basit stated. “If someone casts a hostile eye on us, we would, without hesitation, attack India — Mumbai, New Delhi — we would not hold back. We will worry about the consequences later.”
He framed the remarks as a matter of strategic necessity, suggesting Pakistan should act decisively rather than “give up” even when unable to reach its primary adversaries.
Not an Official Position
Basit’s comments do not represent the current Pakistani government’s official policy. As a retired diplomat, his views reflect elements of strategic thinking prevalent in some Pakistani circles but carry no binding authority. Pakistan has long maintained that its nuclear arsenal is primarily defensive and India-centric, intended as a deterrent against its larger neighbour.
The remarks surfaced as the US intelligence community, in its 2026 Annual Threat Assessment released this week by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, highlighted Pakistan among nations developing advanced missile systems potentially capable of threatening the US homeland. The report grouped Pakistan with Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran as states advancing delivery systems for nuclear and conventional payloads. Pakistan has rejected these assessments, insisting its programme remains India-focused and defensive.
Regional Context and Risks
The statement comes against the backdrop of ongoing conflict in West Asia and longstanding India-Pakistan rivalry. Analysts note parallels with Iranian rhetoric, where Tehran has threatened US allies in the Gulf when unable to strike America directly. However, India hosts no US military bases comparable to those in the Gulf, making Basit’s linkage appear more escalatory than operational.
Pakistan possesses an estimated nuclear arsenal of around 170 warheads and follows a “full-spectrum” deterrence posture that includes tactical nuclear weapons. India maintains a no-first-use policy backed by a credible second-strike capability, advanced missile defences, and superior conventional forces.
Any Pakistani strike on densely populated Indian cities would almost certainly trigger massive retaliation, risking catastrophic consequences for both nations. Successive India-Pakistan crises — including Kargil (1999), the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot episode, and others — have been managed short of full-scale nuclear exchange through mutual deterrence, backchannel diplomacy, and international pressure, particularly from the United States and China.
Strategic Signalling or Bluster?
Security observers view the remarks as inflammatory rhetoric that underscores deep-seated mistrust and the dangerous logic in parts of Pakistan’s strategic establishment, where India serves as a perennial pressure-release valve. While unlikely to alter immediate policy or trigger action, such statements risk heightening tensions, fuelling arms-race dynamics, and complicating efforts toward regional stability.
Direct US military action against Pakistani nuclear sites remains highly improbable, given the complex bilateral relationship involving counterterrorism cooperation, economic aid, and the severe regional fallout any such operation would entail.
This episode once again highlights the fragility of nuclear deterrence in South Asia. Responsible stewardship by both India and Pakistan, coupled with sustained diplomatic engagement, remains essential to prevent rhetoric from escalating into crisis.
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