Army Chief Issues Blunt Warning to Pakistan

India’s army chief issued a blunt warning to Pakistan, pledging massive retaliation if it launches a nuclear attack.

Declaring India “fully ready” for war, Gen. Sunderajan Padmanabhan said: “Should any nuclear weapons be used against Indian forces . . . the perpetrator of that particular outrage shall be punished, and so severely that their continuation thereafter in any form of fray will be doubtful.”

Hours later, Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes sought to play down the remarks, saying, “We are pursuing the diplomatic efforts in the belief that they will yield results.”