Pakistan’s envoy to Russia hurls nuclear threat against India

In a highly provocative statement, Pakistan’s ambassador to Russia, ​Muhammad Khalid Jamali, has warned that Islamabad would respond with the “full spectrum of power” — including nuclear weapons — to what he described as inflammatory media commentary and “irresponsible statements” emanating from India.

Jamali’s remarks were made during an interview with Russia’s state-controlled broadcaster RT, and come shortly after similarly incendiary comments from Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif. On 2 May, speaking on a Geo News programme, Asif threatened retaliatory strikes on any structure built on the Indus River, saying: “Aggression is not just about firing cannons or bullets. It has many faces. One of those faces is [building structures on the river].”

These statements come at a particularly sensitive time, as India mourns the deaths of 26 tourists killed in a 22 April ambush in Pahalgam, South Kashmir, reportedly carried out by Pakistani proxies.

In his interview, a short video of which was posted on X by Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT, Jamali said:​ “You know the frenzy media of India and the irresponsible statements coming out from that side. There are other leaked documents indicating that it has been decided to strike certain areas of Pakistan. So that makes us feel that it is going to happen, and that it is imminent. And as I said, knowing the Pakistani nation and the armed forces of Pakistan, supported by the people of Pakistan, we are going to respond this time with the full spectrum of power.”

Simonyan further quoted Jamali as saying that Pakistan was prepared to use both “conventional and nuclear” weapons against India.

Pakistan recently test-launched the Abdali surface-to-surface missile, claiming the move was to ensure “operational readiness”.

Following the Pahalgam massacre, India has largely opted for diplomatic and economic retaliation. Measures have included suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty — a pact that had withstood previous wars between the two nations — citing Pakistan’s ongoing support for cross-border terrorism. The treaty governs the use of rivers that irrigate around 80% of Pakistan’s agriculture and support its hydropower needs.

New Delhi also withdrew its defence, navy, and air attachés from the High Commission in Islamabad, while expelling Pakistani military personnel posted in India. These individuals were declared persona non grata and given one week to depart.

In a public rally held in Madhubani, Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to bring the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack to justice — including the terrorists, their handlers, and backers — signalling a hardened stance that drew rare bipartisan support from across India’s political spectrum.

Further measures taken by India include a complete ban on the direct or indirect import of goods from Pakistan. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification stating that, under the amended Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, all goods originating from or exported by Pakistan are prohibited with immediate effect, citing reasons of national security and public policy. Any exceptions would require explicit government approval.

Other steps included the closure of the Attari land transit post, used for certain categories of trade, the expulsion of Pakistani military attachés, and the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels. Additionally, India barred all Pakistani commercial and military aircraft from its airspace until 23 May.

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