Asim Munir Threatens India with Nuclear Strike

In the United States, Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, made a controversial statement against India. At a black-tie dinner in Tampa, Florida, hosted by businessman Adnan Asad, Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir said:

“We are a nuclear country. No one should forget that. If Islamabad feels its existence is threatened by India, we will take half the world down with us.”

Repeating his anti-India remarks, the Pakistani Army Chief said that Kashmir is Pakistan’s “jugular vein.” Munir’s threat could further escalate tensions between the two countries.

A few weeks before the Pahalgam attack, Mr. Munir had said that Pakistan would not forget the Kashmir issue, stressing, “It is our jugular vein.” India had rejected his remarks. The Ministry of External Affairs responded:

“How can a foreign element get stuck in someone’s throat? It is a Union Territory of India. Its only connection with Pakistan is that the country must vacate the territories it has illegally occupied.”

In his address, Munir said that during the recent conflict with India, Pakistan responded “with resolve and force,” making it clear that any Indian aggression would be met with a “befitting reply.”

Munir added that Kashmir “is not an internal matter of India, but an unfinished international agenda. As Quaid-e-Azam said, Kashmir is Pakistan’s ‘jugular vein.’”

Munir also stated that Pakistan is very grateful to U.S. President Donald Trump, whose strategic leadership not only prevented a war between India and Pakistan but also averted many other wars around the world.

New Delhi has stated that without U.S. mediation, direct talks between the armies of both countries led to a halt in military actions by India and Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Z-10ME Helicopters: A New Challenge for India

Last month, a photo of a Chinese-origin Z-10ME helicopter appeared on social media, showing it stationed at a firing range in Pakistan.

While some people claimed the picture was AI-generated, others believed it was an older variant of the Z-10 helicopter brought to Pakistan for testing. Amid these speculations, the Pakistani Army formally announced the induction of Chinese-origin Z-10ME attack helicopters into Pakistan Army Aviation.

This news comes at a time when India has made its first major purchase of American-origin attack helicopters. Just a few days earlier, the first batch of three Apache attack helicopters from the U.S. arrived at Hindon Airbase near Delhi.

According to experts, the state-of-the-art Z-10ME, equipped with modern technology, can accurately strike targets in any weather and at any time of day or night.

Outfitted with advanced radar and electronic warfare systems, the Z-10ME enhances the army’s ability to respond effectively and promptly to aerial and ground threats.

Key Features of the Z-10ME Attack Helicopter

According to Defence Security Asia, the Z-10ME, also known as the WZ-10, is China’s first indigenously developed attack helicopter.

It is often compared to India’s AH-64E Apache Guardian.

The helicopter is designed for close air support, anti-tank operations, and limited air-to-air combat. While most radars struggle in foggy weather, the radar fitted in the Z-10ME performs well even in such conditions.

The helicopter’s cannons are linked to helmet-mounted sights, meaning it has a mobile gun system — wherever the pilot looks, the gun automatically aims and fires in that direction.

Differences Between China’s Z-10ME and the American Apache

Compared to the Apache, China has made several modifications in the Z-10ME.

Missile systems typically prioritize infrared (heat-seeking) guidance. Here, the Chinese helicopter has an advantage because its engine exhausts are angled backward at 45 degrees rather than horizontally, significantly reducing its heat signature.

The Z-10ME is lighter, slightly smaller, and has a greater operational range, making it more agile — although the Apache has a higher top speed.

It can deploy a wide range of weapons and is equipped with advanced radar and targeting systems.

The Z-10 is also much cheaper, although both helicopters are built primarily for anti-tank missions.

Apache vs Z-10ME — Detailed Comparison

Pakistan-China Defense Cooperation

Pakistan’s defense cooperation with China began after the 1965 Pakistan-India war, when U.S. arms embargoes pushed Pakistan towards Beijing.

China has since supplied Pakistan with fighter jets, tanks, and artillery, forming the foundation for long-term military and diplomatic relations. This partnership deepened after the Cold War, as Pakistan replaced the U.S. with China as its largest arms supplier.

In 1963, both countries signed an agreement resolving border disputes, and in 1966, China began providing military assistance to Pakistan.

Over recent decades, China has supplied numerous weapons to Pakistan.

According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) data, 81% of Pakistan’s arms imports between 2020 and 2024 came from China. SIPRI also notes that Pakistan’s arms imports increased by 61% between 2015–2019 and 2020–2024.

Weapons supplied by China include modern fighter jets, missiles, radars, and air defense systems. Chinese involvement is also present in locally manufactured Pakistani weapons, either through direct production or via Chinese technology.

Pakistan has purchased 30 Z-10ME helicopters from China, to be delivered in multiple batches.

Summary

• Apache — More powerful engines, heavier weapon load, and extensively combat-proven. Superior in precise and fast strikes against tanks and infrastructure, but expensive and heavy, with higher maintenance costs.
• Z-10ME — Smaller, lighter, longer range, and harder to detect due to low heat signature. More affordable, but untested in large-scale combat.