ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday criticised India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for ‘distorting’ and ‘twisting’ recent remarks made by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir during his visit to the United States.
Foreign Office spokesperson, in a statement, said the Indian narrative of an alleged “nuclear blackmail” was a misleading and self-serving construct.
Comments Field Marshal Munir made at the event in the US were later picked up and distorted by Indian media outlets.
“Our attention has been drawn to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani COAS while on a visit to the US. Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan’s stock-in-trade, the MEA had said earlier today,” the Indian Foreign Ministry said.
Strongly reacting to the Indian Foreign Ministry statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson rejected the statement as “immature”.
“Pakistan strongly rejects the immature remarks made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs earlier today, which is yet another demonstration of their chronic tendency to distort facts and twist statements out of context,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said Pakistan remains firmly opposed to the use or threat of use of force. “India’s sabre rattling and war mongering whenever confronted, invite unfounded allegations bereft of rationality,” the statement said.
He added that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear weapon state with an elaborate command and control structure under full civilian control. “It has always exercised discipline and restraint while dealing with the issues of such importance,” the spokesperson said.
“Pakistan’s sustained and credible counterterrorism efforts are internationally acknowledged. Our security forces remain the bulwark against terrorism. The Indian MEA’s spurious insinuations are irresponsible and without a shred of evidence.”
“We also note with concern a pointless reference to the third countries, in a bid to exert pressure on Pakistan. This not only reflects India’s lack of diplomatic confidence but also constitutes a futile attempt to unnecessarily involve other countries.”
The FO said that “contrary to India’s belligerent and jingoistic approach”, Pakistan would continue to act as a responsible member of the global community.
“However, any act of Indian aggression or violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity will be met with an immediate and matching response. The onus of any ensuing escalation will rest squarely with the Indian leadership,” it warned.
The two countries engaged in a brief but intense military escalation after India, without presenting evidence, blamed Pakistan for the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
In response, New Delhi launched airstrikes on May 6–7 that resulted in civilian casualties. Pakistan retaliated by shooting down six Indian fighter jets.
The conflict escalated with tit-for-tat strikes on each other’s airbases, until US intervention on May 10 led to a ceasefire agreement.
