Pakistan's Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has once again stoked tensions with India, this time issuing a veiled nuclear threat from US soil. Speaking at a private event in Tampa, Florida, Munir warned of potential missile strikes targeting Indian dams on the Indus River, raising concerns about regional stability and the future of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Munir's remarks come amidst already strained relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. India recently suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi alleges was backed by Pakistan. The treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, governs the sharing of waters from the Indus River system, allocating the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej) to India and the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) to Pakistan.

According to reports, Munir stated that Pakistan would wait for India to construct a dam on the Indus River, and then, "we will destroy it with ten missiles". He further asserted that the Indus River is not India's "family property" and that Pakistan has "no shortage of missiles". Munir also issued a broader nuclear threat, stating, "We are a nuclear nation, if we think we are going down, we'll take half the world down with us". This marks the first known instance of a nuclear threat being issued from US territory against a third country.

These statements have been met with strong reactions in India, with many condemning Munir's rhetoric as irresponsible and provocative. Some analysts view his comments as an attempt to আন্তর্জাতিক চাপ বৃদ্ধি to discourage India from pursuing further hydropower projects on the Indus River. Pakistan has consistently objected to India's construction of dams on the western rivers, claiming they violate the IWT and could reduce Pakistan's water supply. India, however, maintains that the projects are within the treaty's stipulations, which allow for non-consumptive uses like hydropower generation.

The timing of Munir's comments is particularly sensitive. Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated in recent months following cross-border conflicts and India's decision to suspend the IWT. Furthermore, Munir's visit to the US, during which he reportedly made these statements, has raised eyebrows, especially given his meetings with top US military officials and a recent White House lunch with former President Donald Trump.

The Indus Waters Treaty has been a cornerstone of regional stability for over six decades, surviving multiple wars and crises. However, the recent developments, including India's suspension of the treaty and Munir's threatening rhetoric, have cast a shadow over its future. With both countries adopting increasingly硬Line stances, the risk of miscalculation and escalation remains high, with potentially devastating consequences for the region.