Top intelligence sources confirm that Pakistan attempted to blackmail the US by threatening nuclear escalation, pushing Washington to intervene and press for a ceasefire.
In a major development, CNN-News18 accessed inside details of Pakistan’s nuclear brinkmanship during its recent military standoff with India.
Top intelligence sources and official statements confirm that Pakistan attempted to blackmail the United States by threatening nuclear escalation, pushing Washington to intervene and press for a ceasefire.
Following precision Indian military strikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’, Pakistan convened its National Command Authority (NCA) — the body responsible for its nuclear arsenal.
During the meeting, Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir reportedly told US Senator Marco Rubio about Islamabad’s intent to “press the nuclear button” if the situation continued to spiral.
This veiled threat was part of a calculated strategy to trigger US intervention. Within hours of the NCA meeting, calls were made to New Delhi and a ceasefire was hastily announced, ending over 100 hours of military action between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
‘Yes, We Blackmailed America’
In an unprecedented admission, a senior Pakistani military official told journalists, “We threatened America to stop the war or we would press the button.”
He further claimed, “We assessed our downside and acted accordingly.” Despite the rising tensions, Pakistan continued counterterrorism operations on its western front and did not withdraw any forces, attempting to project control and restraint.
The official added, “There is no space for war between two nuclear states. It’s a recipe for mutual disaster.”
This direct acknowledgement of nuclear blackmail has shocked strategic observers, highlighting how Pakistan weaponized global fears of nuclear conflict to pressure the U.S. and shape the outcome of the India-Pakistan confrontation.
The US Changed Its Tune
Initially, voices within the US establishment — including Senator JD Vance — viewed the India-Pakistan standoff as a regional matter.
However, after Pakistan’s escalation signals and the looming threat of nuclear fallout, Washington was compelled to step in and push for immediate de-escalation.
A senior Pakistani official said during a media interaction: “Military conflict between two nuclear states is absurd and inconceivable stupidity. There’s no space for war, and the world knows it. Pakistan acted very maturely, used conventional forces, and maintained escalation control throughout.”
He further suggested that Pakistan’s threat of nuclear escalation was not recklessness but “mature escalation control,” framing the move as a strategic play to avoid full-scale war while maintaining leverage.
Key Takeaways
This development underscores the dangerous volatility of South Asia’s security landscape, where nuclear posturing and psychological warfare continue to shape outcomes more than battlefield victories.
It also reveals how Pakistan leveraged its strategic alliance with China and its nuclear arsenal to gain global attention and tilt diplomatic balances.