In a dramatic escalation of rhetoric during his latest U.S. tour, Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has openly threatened to destroy any dam India builds on the Indus River. Speaking to the Pakistani-American community and at elite gatherings in Washington, Munir revived Pakistan’s decades-old “jugular vein” claim on Kashmir and accused India of “aggression under Operation Sindoor.” His comments — reported by Dawn and ARY News — have triggered sharp memories of past water and territorial disputes between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
1. Pakistan Army Chief Issues Dam Threat in America
During his latest visit to the United States, Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir issued a direct warning to India, declaring that Islamabad would protect its water rights “at all costs” if New Delhi proceeds with constructing a dam on the Indus River. His remarks, made before the Pakistani-American community in Tampa, Florida, have sparked fresh tensions between the two neighbours.
2. ‘We Will Destroy It’ — Munir’s Stark Warning
Munir’s words were blunt and uncompromising: “We will wait for India to build a dam, and when they do so, we will destroy it.” This comment, reported by Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, has been interpreted as an explicit threat of cross-border sabotage.
3. Indus River Declared ‘Not India’s Family Property’
At a black-tie dinner in Washington, DC, hosted by Adnan Asad, Pakistan’s honorary consul in Tampa, Munir stated that the Indus River “is not the Indians’ family property.” He claimed Pakistan has “no shortage of resources” to foil any Indian attempt to alter the river’s natural flow, portraying the issue as a matter of national survival.
4. Reviving the ‘Jugular Vein’ Kashmir Claim
Munir reiterated his oft-repeated position that Kashmir is Pakistan’s “jugular vein” — a phrase that has long been central to Pakistan’s political and military rhetoric. He dismissed India’s stance that Kashmir is its internal matter, insisting it remains “an unresolved international issue.”
5. Citing ‘Operation Sindoor’ as Aggression
According to ARY News, Munir condemned what he called Indian aggression under “Operation Sindoor,” describing it as a grave violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty. While details of the operation remain disputed, Munir’s statement framed it as part of India’s alleged broader strategy against Pakistan.
6. Warning of a Potential ‘Huge Blunder’
The Army Chief cautioned that any miscalculation by New Delhi could result in “a huge blunder” with consequences beyond repair. He credited Pakistan’s own defensive response with preventing the recent flare-ups from escalating into a full-scale war.
7. Praising Trump’s Mediation Role
Munir publicly thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for his role in “defusing tensions” between India and Pakistan, though India maintains that the recent ceasefire stability came from direct military-to-military talks — not U.S. mediation.
8. India’s Sharp Rebuttal in April
India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal responded strongly to Munir’s April 17 comments, questioning how “anything foreign” could be in a country’s jugular vein. He asserted that Jammu and Kashmir is a Union Territory of India and reiterated that Pakistan’s only role in Kashmir is to vacate territories it “illegally occupies.”
9. High-Level U.S. Military Engagements
Munir’s U.S. trip included attendance at the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) change-of-command ceremony in Tampa. He praised outgoing commander General Michael E. Kurilla for his “exemplary leadership” in Pakistan-U.S. defence ties and expressed confidence in incoming Admiral Brad Cooper to continue strengthening the partnership.
10. Extending Diplomatic Mission to Brussels
After concluding his American engagements — including sideline meetings with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine and defence chiefs from allied countries — Munir flew to Brussels on Sunday for further diplomatic and military discussions, underscoring Pakistan’s push to project itself as a key regional security player.
Field Marshal Asim Munir’s blunt warning over the Indus River and fiery revival of the Kashmir “jugular vein” claim have once again placed Pakistan-India relations under the global spotlight. While Pakistan frames these remarks as a defence of sovereignty and water security, India sees them as baseless provocation. With both nations remaining on edge and Munir deepening Pakistan’s international military outreach, the coming months could determine whether this war of words remains rhetoric — or escalates into a new flashpoint.
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