'Can’t survive without terrorism': BJP reacts to ex-Pakistan envoy's remarks on striking India

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday said former Pakistani diplomat Abdul Basit’s recent remarks against India showed that Pakistan “cannot survive without terrorism.”Basit, former Pakistani envoy to India, said in an interview that in a hypothetical scenario where the US tried to destroy Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities, Islamabad would have to strike Mumbai or New Delhi. Reacting sharply to the remarks, BJP National Spokesperson Tuhin Sinha told IANS, “Abdul Basit’s threat that Delhi and Mumbai will be blown up with bombs from Pakistan shows that even today, Pakistan is rattled by strikes during Operation Sindoor. It has lost its mental balance.”Terming Pakistan a “terrorist state”, Sinha said, “It is a terrorist state and now we don’t even have to say it. Last year, (Pakistan Army Chief) Asim Munir had told the US that if needed, the oil refineries in Jamnagar would be blown up. Now, the country’s former envoy has used this kind of language. It shows that terrorism is ingrained in their nature. Pakistan can’t survive without terrorism.”Basit had said, “Suppose there is a scenario where the US views our nuclear programme in a negative light or tries to destroy our nuclear capability.It is unlikely, but I am talking about a worst-case scenario. Let’s imagine that the US tries to attack us. Even if the US is not within our nuclear range, what options do we have?”When asked if India would be involved, he replied, “India. We would not have to do anything else. Even if we do not have the range to target the US, we would have to strike India’s Mumbai and New Delhi without thinking. We have no other option, since the US is not within our range, then we would have no choice but to attack India. Then let’s see what happens. We do not want that to happen.”Basit’s comments came amid tensions in the Middle East over Iran’s nuclear programme, following joint US-Israeli strikes on Tehran on 28 February. The attacks triggered a wider conflict in the region, which has now entered its third week. Donald Trump has also warned Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face military action.