By Emeka Blast 
Pakistan Threatens Global Fallout: ‘We’ll Take Half the World With Us’
In a chilling escalation of rhetoric amid global tensions, a high-ranking Pakistani official has issued a dire warning, stating that as a nuclear-armed nation, Pakistan would not hesitate to unleash catastrophic retaliation if it perceives an existential threat. The statement, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, August 10, 2025, reads: “We(🇵🇰) are a nuclear armed nation, if we think we are going down, we will take half the world down with us.” The post, attributed to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, has sent shockwaves through international diplomatic circles, prompting concerns about nuclear stability in South Asia and beyond.
The remark comes against the backdrop of heightened U.S.-Pakistan relations following a recent oil trade deal announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on July 30, 2025, but also amid ongoing security alerts, including a U.S. warning for Karachi over terror threats to luxury hotels. Analysts suggest the statement may be a response to perceived threats from India, with whom Pakistan has a long history of conflict, including the 2025 Operation Sindoor skirmishes. “This is classic brinkmanship,” said Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa, a Pakistani security expert, in an interview with Dawn. “It’s a reminder of Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine, which emphasizes first-use if conventional forces are overwhelmed.”
Pakistan, which conducted its first nuclear test in 1998, possesses an estimated 170 warheads, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), making it the world’s sixth-largest nuclear power. The country’s “full-spectrum deterrence” policy, aimed at countering India’s conventional superiority, includes tactical nuclear weapons for battlefield use. The warning echoes past statements from Pakistani leaders, such as former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s 2019 threat of nuclear escalation during the Pulwama crisis.
International reactions were swift and condemnatory. The U.S. State Department, through spokesperson Matthew Miller, called the statement “irresponsible and dangerous,” urging restraint and dialogue. “Nuclear saber-rattling has no place in modern diplomacy,” Miller said in a briefing. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar responded on X: “Threats won’t deter us. India stands firm for peace, but ready for any challenge.” The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed “deep concern,” calling for de-escalation in South Asia.
On X, the post garnered over 500,000 views within hours, with mixed responses. @NaijaGist tweeted, “Pakistan’s nuclear threat is scary—half the world? That’s MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)! #PakistanWarning,” while @EagleEyeNG posted, “Bold words from Pakistan, but is this bluff or real? India won’t back down. #SouthAsiaTensions.” Critics like @TruthSeekerNG warned, “This kind of rhetoric could trigger accidental war. Leaders need to cool it.”
The statement has also drawn attention to Pakistan’s internal challenges, including economic woes and political instability, with some analysts linking it to domestic posturing. Former Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry told The Express Tribune, “Such warnings reinforce deterrence but risk isolating Pakistan internationally.”
As global leaders monitor the situation, the U.S. and allies are pushing for backchannel talks between India and Pakistan, amid fears of miscalculation in a nuclear-armed region.
