US State Dept sidesteps Asim Munir's nuclear threat made on American soil, says 'ask Pak govt'

The US government has said that it is aware of reports concerning Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir’s alleged remarks on nuclear warfare but said it “would refer you to the Government of Pakistan” regarding these comments, reports CNN-News18.

CNN-News18 had asked the US State Department whether it had taken note of reports about Munir’s remarks on American soil, which included a nuclear threat and the Indian government’s subsequent reaction.

“We are aware of these reports and would refer you to the Government of Pakistan regarding Chief of Army Staff Munir’s alleged remarks,” a US State Department spokesperson said in an e-mail response to the query.

Speaking at a dinner in Tampa, Florida last week, Munir said, “We (Pakistan) are a nuclear nation; if we think we are going down, we’ll take half the world down with us." This marked an unprecedented nuclear threat issued by a country, and that too from US soil.

Expressing his frustration over India's decision to put in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty, he also threatened to destroy Indian dam infrastructure on the Indus river with missiles.

“The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups. It is also regrettable that these remarks should have been made from the soil of a friendly third country,” the Indian government said.

India also stressed that it will not yield to nuclear blackmail and will continue to take all steps necessary to safeguard its national security.

Earlier, Munir was hosted by US President Donald Trump at the White House in June, an unprecedented move not extended to the Pakistani President or Prime Minister. He recently returned to the US for the farewell of United States Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Michael Kurilla.

The incident has raised concerns in India over the US giving Munir a platform to make such nuclear threats. The comments from the US State Department to CNN-News18 indicate that Washington is refusing to assume responsibility for the matter.