ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s defense minister on Monday dismissed Indian accusations of “sabre-rattling,” saying New Delhi’s claims about alleged nuclear threats by the Pakistani army chief were baseless and reflected domestic political pressures on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The comments followed a statement by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) accusing Pakistan of “sabre-rattling” and “irresponsibility” after media reports claimed Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir had hinted at the possible use of nuclear weapons during a speech in Florida, framing it as a warning to New Delhi in light of recent military tensions.

Indian officials argued that such comments, if accurate, amounted to “nuclear sabre-rattling” — a term used to describe provocative or threatening language about deploying nuclear arms — and said it was particularly irresponsible to make them while abroad in a “friendly third country.”

Munir was said to have spoken at a black-tie dinner hosted by a Pakistani-origin businessman in Florida on Saturday, attended by more than 100 guests. An excerpt of his speech shared by Pakistani security officials did not contain any such remarks, while Pakistan’s foreign office said the Indian MEA’s statement was “yet another demonstration of their chronic tendency to distorting facts and twisting statements out of context.”

“This is a totally baseless thing, [they] are trying to make an issue [out of Munir’s remarks],” Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said in an interview to a private news channel. “These things reflect one thing… internally, Modi has been devastated, with no reputation left.”

Asif said Modi was under intense pressure following the outcome of a four-day military standoff between India and Pakistan in May, as well as an increase in US tariffs linked to New Delhi’s purchase of Russian crude oil. 

India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed neighbors with a history of wars and border clashes, fought their deadliest battle in decades in May after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 26 civilians. The skirmish quickly escalated into aerial combat.

Pakistan claimed its air force used Chinese-built J-10C fighter jets to shoot down six Indian aircraft, including three French-made Rafales. Last week, Indian Air Chief A.P. Singh said his country had also downed six Pakistani jets, which Islamabad denies. 

In the interview on Monday, Asif warned that Modi’s political troubles could prompt risky military moves: “He could resort to something which is, which could, you know, amount to a war, amount to something desperate in this region.”

In its statement, the Indian MEA described “nuclear sabre-rattling” as Pakistan’s “stock-in-trade,” and said it was “regrettable that the reported remarks have been made while in a friendly third country.”

The version of Munir’s speech released by Pakistani officials read: “The (Indian) aggression has brought the region to the brink of a dangerously escalating war, where a bilateral conflict due to any miscalculation will be a grave mistake.”

Pakistan’s foreign office rejected India’s allegations as “a misleading and self-serving construct,” saying:

“Pakistan remains firmly opposed to the use or threat of use of force. India’s sabre-rattling and war mongering, whenever confronted, invite unfounded allegations bereft of rationality.”