Will attack Indian cities if US attacks Pakistan: Ex envoys chilling remark sparks outrage

PTC News Desk: A startling yet bizarre remark by former Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit, has raised eyebrows after he suggested that attacking Indian cities such as Delhi and Mumbai would Pakistan's default move if if comes under attack from the US.

Abdul Basit's provocative and irresponsible remarks during a TV show in response to to a question on US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's statements flagging Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile programme. 

Basit said Gabbard's "anti-Pakistan" worldview always comes to the fore. "She is Indian-origin after all. Pakistan's deterrence is India-specific. Tulsi Gabbard saw our missiles, but not India's Agni 5 and Agni 6. They are intercontinental missiles. We don't have that kind of range. I pray this increases. We should at least be able to target Israel," he said during an interaction on Pakistani channel

Basit, who served as Pakistan's High Commissioner to India from 2014 to 2027 said that India would be immediate target in such a situation where Pakistan is struck by the United States. He further said that the consequences of attacking Indian could be borne later, however if world decides to cast an evil eye on Pakistan, then strikes on India will be imminent. 

He further said think tanks in India are particularly responsible for shaping such a narrative as they are heavily dominated by Indian-origin individuals. 

"We have limited missiles, and we know who is a danger to us. It is India. If India chooses aggression, we have the response. But if the situation turns bad, Mumbai and Delhi are going nowhere. They are not far. We don't need intercontinental missiles for that, Tulsi sahiba. We will hit from here," he said.