Pakistan Rattled after Army Chief Bipin Rawat calls out its ‘nuclear bluff’

A flustered Pakistan on Saturday threatened India with a nuclear strike and challenged the country to “test our resolve”, a day after Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had said that India was ready to call out the neighboring country’s “nuclear bluff”.

In a tweet, Pakistan’s foreign minister Khawaja M Asif said, “Very irresponsible statement by Indian Army Chief, not befitting his office. Amounts to the invitation for the nuclear encounter.If that is what they desire, they are welcome to test our resolve. The general’s doubt would swiftly be removed, inshallah.”

“Very irresponsible statement by Indian Army Chief,not befitting his office. Amounts to invitation for nuclear encounter.If that is what they desire,they are welcome to test our resolve.The general's doubt would swiftly be removed, inshallah.”

— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) January 13, 2018

His tweet was followed up a series of tweets by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Dr. Mohammad Faisal, who called the Army Chief’s statement as reflective of India’s “sinister mindset” and also stressed that Pakistan was “fully capable” of defending itself.

The threatening and irresponsible statement by the Indian Army Chief today is representative of a sinister mindset that has taken hold of India. Pakistan has demonstrated deterrence capability.1/2

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) January 13, 2018

These are not issues to be taken lightly. There must not be any misadventure based on miscalculation. Pakistan is fully capable of defending itself. 2/2

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) January 13, 2018

On Friday, in a run-up to the Army Day event, Army chief Rawat had addressed the press during which he had said that the force was ready to call out ‘Pakistan’s nuclear bluff’ and was prepared to cross the border to carry out any operation if the government asked them to do so.

“We will call the nuclear bluff of Pakistan. If we will have to really confront the Pakistanis, and a task is given to us, we are not going to say we cannot cross the border because they have nuclear weapons. We will have to call their nuclear bluff,” he had said.

General Rawat’s remark had come in response to a question on the possibility of Pakistan using its nuclear weapons in case of the situation along the border deteriorated.

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