'Sadakchaap': Owaisi condemns Pakistan army chief's nuclear rant; seeks higher defence spend

NEW DELHI: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday hit out at Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir , calling him a “ sadakchaap aadmi” (roadside goon) for issuing a nuclear threat to India.

Also Read: Pakistan general makes extraordinary nuclear threat from US soil

Owaisi also noted that Munir made the remarks from the United States — a country which is a strategic partner of India.

“Pakistan Army Chief’s words and his threats are condemnable. What’s unfortunate is that this is happening from the US, which is India’s strategic partner. He is speaking like a ‘sadakchaap aadmi’. We believe the Modi government should give a political response like the MEA statement,” the Hyderabad MP told ANI.

Also Read: How can Pakistan General give Nuclear-threat from land of a friendly nation, ask MPs in Parliament

Urging the Centre to boost India’s defence budget, Owaisi stressed the importance of preparedness in light of persistent threats from Pakistan’s military and its “deep state.”

What did Asim Munir say?

Pakistan Army chief and newly promoted field marshal Asim Munir, speaking in Florida, warned that Islamabad could use nuclear weapons against India and even “half the world” if faced with an "existential threat."

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the remarks, describing them as “nuclear sabre-rattling” — a behaviour it said was “Pakistan’s stock-in-trade.” The MEA criticised the irresponsibility of such threats and questioned Pakistan’s nuclear command integrity, given its military’s ties to terrorist groups.

Also Read: Government slams Asim Munir for nuke threat, says regrettable he did it in US

This was Munir’s second trip to the US in two months, following a June lunch meeting hosted by President Donald Trump.