Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has asserted that he prevented an Indian-Pakistani nuclear conflict in 2019 by intervening. Pompeo claims that after India launched airstrikes on Pakistan in retaliation for terrorist attacks on Indian forces in Kashmir, Pakistan notified him that it was preparing a nuclear attack. According to reports, Pompeo and the country’s then-National Security Advisor, John Bolton, called Pakistan’s army leader to inquire about the country’s intentions to deploy nuclear weapons against India. After the Army Chief rejected the proposal, Pompeo advised India not to activate its nuclear arsenal.
This assertion was made by Pompeo in his most recent book, “Never Give an Inch: Fighting for America, I Love.” The late former foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, whom he described in the book as a “goofball and a Heartland political hack,” was among the Indian leaders with whom he had interactions. He also discussed these interactions in the book. Dr Shankar, India’s current foreign minister, condemned the remarks as disrespectful.
Some have questioned Pompeo’s claim that he can prevent a nuclear war between India and Pakistan. Some believe that Pompeo exaggerates the event to make himself appear as a “Superman of Peace” and boost his political aspirations. India and Pakistan have a long-standing history of tension and have come close to nuclear war multiple times. The region of Kashmir, which both countries claim as their own, has been a major source of conflict for decades.
After terrorist assaults on Indian forces in Kashmir in 2019, tensions between India and Pakistan grew. In retaliation, India attacked Pakistan with airstrikes, which forced Pakistan’s army chief to deny that his country had any intentions of using nuclear weapons against India. There has been no independent confirmation of Pompeo’s assertion that he helped stop the two countries from going nuclear. Other experts disagree that the situation was as dire as Pompeo claimed.
Controversy has also been generated by Pompeo’s remarks in his book concerning Indian leaders. His use of offensive language to describe former foreign minister Sushma Swaraj has been criticised, and some have demanded an apology. It is crucial to remember that tensions between India and Pakistan have long been a problem, so the situation may not have been as terrible as Pompeo claims. Nevertheless, Pompeo’s claim that he prevented a nuclear war between India and Pakistan may be genuine. His remarks regarding Indian politicians have also drawn criticism and demanded an apology. How this may impact future ties between the United States and India is yet to be determined.
