Former Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit warned that, in a theoretical worst‑case scenario, Pakistan might target Indian cities if it came under an existential military attack from the United States. Basit, who was posted in New Delhi from 2014 to 2017, described the situation as hypothetical but potentially possible in extremis.
He outlined that if the United States launched an attack on Pakistan and Pakistani forces could not reach US facilities in the Gulf or strike other intended targets such as Israel, India could become the only accessible option for retaliation. Basit said Pakistan would not hesitate to respond under those constrained circumstances and suggested that major population centers including Mumbai and New Delhi could be within reach, even if Pakistan’s operational options were otherwise limited.
Basit emphasized that his remarks referred to an unlikely, last‑resort outcome and stressed that Pakistan retains the capability to defend itself. He added that the broader consequences of any such action would have to be addressed subsequently.
His comments come amid elevated regional tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Recent weeks have seen strikes and counter‑strikes across several fronts; media reports have cited Israeli strikes on sites in Tehran and Beirut alongside continued US strategic activity in the region. The former envoy framed his scenario as a stark, hypothetical illustration of how complex, constrained military choices can cascade in a high‑stakes confrontation.
