The other day General Asim Munir (promoted to Field Marshal in May 2025) thundered in Pakistan Military Academy at Kakul in Abbottabad that he would change the geography of India and punish Afghanistan. He was obviously making the nuclear threat, which is the USP of every Pakistani and not only its military and political leadership. He also boasted surprisingly about Pakistan’s victory post Operation Sindoor, just because Pakistan claims to have downed 5-6 Indian jet fighters.
Unfortunately, Indian CDS has an indirect role in creating this confusion by talking in riddles at Singapore. During an interview on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum, General Anil Chauhan confirmed that India experienced “initial losses in the air” during the conflict with Pakistan. However, he did not confirm the specific number of aircraft lost. And the IAF chief further added to confusion that losses would not be divulged because Operation Sindoor was still ongoing. Such a lack of transparency was bound to create doubts about India’s claims, worldwide and Pakistan latched on to it.
Each Pakistani considers this as a victory — though there is no evidence. When Pakistan’s defence minister was asked, his evidence was “social media”. And now even educated Pakistanis think it as a victory because POTUS has said that 5-7 fighter jets were downed – he did not clarify, of which country? He even thinks that India and Pakistan have been fighting for over 1,500 years and Pakistanis believe it.
In view of this, I ask each Pakistani, three questions, namely, do they know the impact of a nuclear war on them; how do Pakistanis qualify their alleged victory in Operation Sindoor and if Pakistan was winning, why had they gone for cease fire – wasn’t it right with victory in their grasp to take away Kashmir from India? Why did they fell into the lap of POTUS to halt the ongoing war?
Asim Munir boasted surprisingly about Pakistan’s victory post Operation Sindoor, just because Pakistan claims to have downed 5-6 Indian jet fighters
First, is about nuclear threat by Pakistan. Let us say that Pakistan initiates it. Someone please explain to me — how Pakistan will be safe from any nuclear holocaust? As regular threats of use of nukes are made by your Asim Munir and Defence Minister, Khwaja Asif, does ordinary Pakistani know the consequences? If they are taken seriously by India and one day it reacts in a pre-emptive mode – what will be left of Pakistan? If India decides to do this, will it leave any chance for Munir and Khawaja Asif to carry out second strike? Asim Munir & Co might survive by hiding in a nuclear bunker, though doubtful, but what about the common man?
According to a SIPRI report, Pakistan has about 172 nuclear devices with a yield varying from 0.5 kilotons (KT) to 21 (KT). While India too has some 180 such devices but with bigger yield. The danger is not only from direct impact of heat, flash and radiation which will instantly kill millions but also from effects of resultant fires, shock effect, wind effect (both sides) and soot blocking the sunlight.
Therefore, any nuclear conflagration is not a joke. Only the crazy people can even think about it. Unfortunately, Pakistan abounds in such Madrassa Chhap crazy people. Those who speak relentlessly about it, do not understand the consequences of such a war. A Princeton University Study of 2019, about the fallouts of any US-Russia nuclear war, states that:
“….. 34.1 million People could die, and another 57.4 million could be injured, within the first few hours of the start of a nuclear war between Russia and the United States triggered by one low-yield nuclear weapon….”
A Rutgers University report by Professor Alan Robock about Indo-Pak nuclear war says, “If India used 100 strategic weapons and Pakistan used 150, say each of 15-20 KT, an estimated 50 to 125 million people could die instantly from the direct effects, with additional deaths from mass starvation possible worldwide,”
Each Pakistani considers this as a victory — though there is no evidence. When Pakistan’s defence minister was asked, his evidence was “social media”. And now even educated Pakistanis think it as a victory because POTUS has said that 5-7 fighter jets were downed – he did not clarify, of which country?
It continues, “…. fires ignited by exploding nuclear weapons could release 16 million to 36 million tons of soot (black carbon) with smoke, that would rise into the upper atmosphere, spreading around the world within weeks.
The soot would absorb solar radiation, heat the air, and boost the smoke’s swift rise. Sunlight reaching Earth would decline by 20 to 35 per cent, cooling the earth’s surface by 3.6 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit (2 to 5 degrees Celsius) and reducing precipitation by 15 to 30 per cent, with larger regional impacts,”
It further reported, “Vegetation growth would decline by 15 to 30 per cent on land and ocean productivity would decline by 5 to 15 per cent. Recovery from all these impacts would take more than 10 years because the smoke would linger in the upper atmosphere.”
Secondly, all Pakistanis keep saying that India was badly beaten and Pakistan had won in May 25 conflict? What is the proof — do you think those 5-6 fighter jets of India downed by you is the proof? Aren’t losses a part of the war? How do you think it was victory? What are the parameters? What if it comes out that facts were hidden from you by your Generals that these downed jets were “decoy drones” representing fighter jets?
What would you say of your 11 -13 air fields damaged— including your Noor Khan Air Base, Kirana Hills, Jacobabad, Bholari Air bases etc.? What about destruction of nine terror camps and killing of over 200 militants and your 150 soldiers. You are giving gallantry awards posthumously to over 150 soldiers on your Independence Day (August 14), which speaks volume about it. What was it?
Anyway — even if you thought you had won — then why did you ask for a ceasefire? Why did your DGMO rang-up, the Indian DGMO twice? IF YOU WERE WINNING, THEN, WHY DID YOU NOT CAPTURE KASHMIR — IT WAS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY for you to retake your jugular vein. But you did not do it because you know the facts that your army was badly beaten. It was in no condition to continue the fight. And to mask this defeat, you promoted Asim Munir. Even if you think you had downed 5-7 Indian jets, it was Pak Air Force’s work and not of the Pak army. How come Munir was given the credit? Think logically.
A Rutgers University report by Professor Alan Robock about Indo-Pak nuclear war says, “If India used 100 strategic weapons and Pakistan used 150, say each of 15-20 KT, an estimated 50 to 125 million people could die instantly from the direct effects, with additional deaths from mass starvation possible worldwide”
Fact is Asim Munir and Sharif’s lies can only fool their own people — not the rest of the world. USA/China are only using your Generals. They have personal agendas to settle their families and businesses in USA— even Munir has done it— he got citizenship in days of applying in June 2025. What is more, Munir is desperate to force tension at the cost of Pakistan — no wonder he has made both Eastern and Western borders active and even lured TLP to create chaos in the country. But IMF is not going to leave Pakistan for US$ 11 billion imports. All the best my Pakistani friends.
-An ex-NDA and Wellington Staff College graduate, Col Rajinder Singh is a renowned author and security analyst. He has authored four books, two individually and two in collaboration. His best-selling books are Kashmir – A Different Perspective and The ULFA Insurgency. The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
