Former Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit said Pakistan could resort to striking India if it faced an existential military threat from the United States. Basit, who served in New Delhi from 2014 to 2017, described the scenario as a hypothetical worst-case outcome.
He argued that if the US attacked Pakistan and Pakistani forces were unable to reach US bases in the Gulf or strike Israel, India would become the only available target. Basit said Pakistan would not hesitate to retaliate and indicated that major Indian cities such as Mumbai and New Delhi could be struck, even if Pakistan’s range or operational reach was limited.
Basit framed his remarks as referring to a highly unlikely situation and stressed that Pakistan has the capability to defend itself. He said the consequences of any such action would be dealt with later, reiterating that the scenario was theoretical but possible in extremis.
The comments come amid heightened tensions involving Iran, the US and Israel, where recent weeks have seen military strikes and counter-strikes across multiple fronts. Reports indicate Israeli strikes on locations in Tehran and Beirut and continued US strategic operations in the region.
