Ex-Pak Envoy Warns US Clash Could Target Mumbai and Delhi
Ex-Pak Envoy Warns US Clash Could Target Mumbai and Delhi
Former Pakistani diplomat Abdul Basit sparks controversy with a hypothetical warning of strikes on Mumbai and Delhi amid rising US-Pak tensions.
A former Pakistani diplomat, Abdul Basit, stirred controversy by describing a hypothetical worst‑case clash involving the United States and Pakistan that could see strikes on major Indian cities including Mumbai and Delhi. He stressed the scenario was hypothetical and that he did not want such outcomes, though the remarks drew sharp criticism.
Basit served as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India from 2014 to 2017, a period marked by tense bilateral ties. His comments come as regional tensions linger, months after India launched Op Sindoor against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK.
Reaction was swift and varied. Critics questioned the appropriateness of such rhetoric from a former envoy, and there was no official statement from the government yet. The host framed the remark as a worst‑case scenario and Basit reiterated that India does not want escalation either.
The episode underscores how inflammatory language can complicate diplomacy in a time of fragile regional security, where broader geopolitical tensions intersect with bilateral relations.
Observers say responsible diplomacy matters more than sensational hypotheticals, especially as regional security remains a live issue.
