NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday that India had called Pakistan’s nuclear bluff in recent cross-border air strikes that almost triggered a new war between the nuclear-armed rivals.
Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have made national security the focus of their campaign for a national election now being held.
The prime minister told an election rally that an air strike inside Pakistan in February had shown that warnings hostilities could escalate into nuclear conflict were false.
“Pakistan has threatened us with nuclear, nuclear, nuclear,” Modi told an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir near the border with Pakistan.
“Did we deflate their nuclear threat or not?” he asked the crowd that chanted “Modi, Modi, Modi” in response.
India says its fighter jets bombed a suspected militant installation in Pakistan on February 26 to avenge the killing of 40 paramilitaries by a suicide bomber in Indian Kashmir 12 days earlier.
Pakistan responded by sending its warplanes toward Indian airspace, leading to a dogfight and the downing of an Indian jet.
Military experts have long warned that a conventional armed conflict between the two countries could result in nuclear war and that this was holding them back from a serious showdown.
Pakistan has never made a public nuclear threat. But its Prime Minister Imran Khan did call on both sides to pull back from the brink in February because of the “weapons we have.”
Modi renewed his warning to Pakistan that “his new India” is capable of “eliminating terrorists in their homes.”
India has long accused Pakistan of supporting militants in Kashmir, a charge its neighbor denies. The suicide bombing was claimed by a Pakistan-based group, however.
The BJP has sought to use security to lead its election campaign amid a surge of nationalist sentiment since the air strikes.
Opposition groups who have questioned the success of the raids have been slammed as “anti-national” by the party.
Modi also vowed that India would never give up its claim to Kashmir, which is divided between the two countries, and has been the cause of two wars between the neighbors since their independence in 1947.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed in an insurgency in Indian-administered Kashmir since 1989.
Modi attacked opposition parties who he said were working to “separate” Kashmir, the country’s only Muslim majority state, from India.
The government currently faces widespread opposition in Kashmir to a plan to scrap a constitutional article that gives the Himalayan region a special autonomous status within India.
Opposition parties accuse Modi of exploiting turbulence in Kashmir to woo Hindu voters in the election.
Modi says India undermined Pakistan nuclear threat
Modi says India undermined Pakistan nuclear threat
- Tells an election rally in Kashmir Pakistan “threatened us with nuclear, nuclear, nuclear”
- Says “new India” is capable of “eliminating terrorists in their homes”
Coach Gambhir under pressure as India aim for back-to-back T20 triumphs
- India’s home defeats in other formats have put Gautam Gambhir’s coaching job on the line
- Indian media suggests former batter, World Cup winner may lose his job if India fails in T20 tournament
NEW DELHI, India: Holders India will enter the T20 World Cup as firm favorites on home soil, but coach Gautam Gambhir faces intense scrutiny under the weight of expectation from a billion-plus fans.
India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will begin their campaign against the United States at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.
It will round off the opening day of the tournament’s 10th edition, which has been marred by a chaotic build-up.
Bangladesh last month refused to play in India, citing security concerns, and were kicked out to be replaced by Scotland.
This week the Pakistan government followed up by barring its team from playing against India in Group A on February 15 in Colombo as a protest at Bangladesh’s treatment.
The boycott has robbed the group stage of the biggest rivalry and money-spinning spectacle, but leaves India in pole position to top the group.
Pakistan should also progress to the Super Eights in second place, barring a slip-up against the Netherlands, Namibia or the USA, who make up the five-team group.
Top-ranked India reinforced their credentials as tournament favorites with a recent 4-1 win over New Zealand — their ninth successive T20 bilateral series triumph.
But home defeats in other formats have put Gambhir’s high-profile job on the line.
India were beaten 2-0 by South Africa in a Test series last year and New Zealand won an ODI series 2-1.
Gambhir, 44, replaced Rahul Dravid as coach after the T20 World Cup triumph in 2024 and has lost 10 out of 19 Tests.
SWASHBUCKLING SHARMA
Indian media suggested the former batsman and World Cup-winner may lose his job if India fail in the 20-team tournament.
“He should stay away from social media till the World Cup and focus on the team,” India batsman Ajinkya Rahane told website cricbuzz.
It will be India’s first T20 World Cup since the retirements of then captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli following the final victory in Barbados in 2024.
India first won the title under Mahendra Singh Dhoni in Johannesburg in 2007 but will have to defy history to win again, with no team having previously gone back-to-back.
Abhishek Sharma has replaced Rohit in the role of fearless opener, with the swashbuckling batsman scoring at a punishing strike rate of more than 194.
The 25-year-old left-hander is in form. He smashed India’s second fastest 50, off 14 balls, against New Zealand.
Captain Suryakumar ended a batting slump with three half-centuries in the same series while Ishan Kishan’s comeback has added muscle to the batting order.
Batting great Sunil Gavaskar told broadcaster JioStar that India were full of confidence.
“Even if there is a small stumble, this team knows it can recover, regroup, and continue marching toward victory,” said the former India captain.
The bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, has new talent in the shape of medium-pacer Harshit Rana.
Bumrah, Rana and Arshdeep Singh form the seam attack, with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube as the all-rounders.
“It’s a luxury that we have a handful of bowlers that can bowl in every situation,” bowling coach Morne Morkel said.
“Part of the thinking ... was to look at different sorts of combinations. We don’t want teams to have set plans against us.”
Spinner Washington Sundar and batsman Tilak Varma are recovering from injury, but both are expected to be fit.
