Islamabad: A fresh diplomatic row has erupted following provocative statements by former Pakistani High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, who suggested that Pakistan should target major Indian cities if it faces a military strike from the United States. Speaking on the Pakistani news channel ‘ABN News’ on Sunday, March 22, 2026, Basit claimed that “bombing” New Delhi and Mumbai would be the “only option left” for Islamabad in the event of a US attack linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict.
Basit, who served as Pakistan’s top diplomat in New Delhi from 2014 to 2017, argued that India would become the immediate and primary target if the global situation escalated against Pakistan. During the televised discussion, he stated that the long-term consequences of striking Indian metropolitan centres could be “borne later,” but emphasized that if the “world cast an evil eye” against Pakistan, their strategic response must be directed at India. His remarks have been widely condemned for their aggressive and inflammatory tone, particularly at a time when regional stability is already under severe pressure due to the crisis in Iran and the Persian Gulf.
The timing of these remarks is especially sensitive as India remains on high alert following the recent Iranian missile strike on Dimona, which has a significant Indian-Jewish population. Observers warn that such high-level rhetoric from a former senior diplomat further strains the fragile ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours and undermines ongoing international efforts to prevent the West Asia conflict from spilling over into South Asia.
Indian officials have yet to issue a formal rebuttal, but security analysts suggest that such narratives are likely intended to cater to domestic hardline audiences in Pakistan amidst the country’s own internal political and economic challenges. The “bombing” remark has triggered widespread concern across social media and diplomatic circles, with many calling for a de-escalation of language to avoid miscalculations in an already volatile geopolitical climate.
