Basit, who served as Islamabad’s prime diplomat in New Delhi from 2014 to 2017 framed India as Pakistan’s “default” goal in a worst-case state of affairs the place the US targets its nuclear property.
As tensions within the West Asia intensify with the continued Iran warfare involving the US and Israel, a controversial assertion by former Pakistan Excessive Commissioner to India Abdul Basit has raised recent considerations about regional safety.
Talking a couple of hypothetical worst-case state of affairs, Basit, who served as Islamabad’s prime diplomat in New Delhi from 2014 to 2017 instructed that Pakistan might strike India if confronted with an existential army risk from the US or Israel.
#BreakingNews | “India could face 26/11-style assaults.”
Former Pak Excessive Commissioner Abdul Basit warns of a catastrophic safety blowback for India if the US and Israel ever plan to strike Pakistan and its nuclear facility#ExclusiveStory: @manojkumargupta @AmanKayamHai_ and… pic.twitter.com/rQIZOxPoDD
— News18 (@CNNnews18) March 21, 2026
Basit framed his assertion round a deteriorating regional scenario, saying, “Let’s say the scenario in Iran worsens and Israel positions itself nearer to us. Suppose a state of affairs develops the place the US additionally views our nuclear program negatively or makes an attempt to destroy our nuclear functionality.”
Although, he emphasised that such a state of affairs was extremely unlikely however proceeded to stipulate its implications. “I’m speaking a couple of worst-case state of affairs, one thing that’s among the many impossibilities, as a result of Pakistan has the aptitude to defend itself,” he mentioned.
‘Solely choice can be India’
Elaborating on this hypothetical scenario, Basit argued that if Pakistan have been attacked by the US and was unable to reply immediately as a result of vary or operational limitations—India would develop into the default goal.
“If the US assaults Pakistan and we can not attain their bases within the Gulf or strike Israel, then what can be our solely choice? India,” he mentioned.
He additional added that in such circumstances, Pakistan wouldn’t hesitate. “We’d don’t have anything else to do. Even when our vary doesn’t lengthen there, if somebody casts a hostile eye on us, we might, with out hesitation, assault India—Mumbai, New Delhi—we might not maintain again.”
Basit additionally instructed that penalties can be secondary in such a state of affairs. “No matter occurs afterward can be handled later and we should always not maintain again both,” he mentioned, reiterating that such a scenario stays unlikely however potential in concept.
Iran warfare escalation provides to regional anxiousness
Basit’s remarks come at a time when the battle involving Iran, the US and Israel has entered a extra risky section. Over the previous three weeks, army strikes and counter-strikes have expanded throughout a number of fronts, with Israel reportedly concentrating on places in Tehran and Beirut, whereas US forces stay engaged in strategic operations within the area.
Regardless of alerts from US President Donald Trump a couple of potential exit technique and claims of nearing key army targets, the battle continues to evolve unpredictably. Analysts warn that the widening scope of the warfare will increase the danger of unintended penalties, together with the involvement of extra regional actors.
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