Region 
 

Islamabad

War by other Means

The uncalled-for hostility against Pakistan and Iran is not about supporting Kashmir or Palestine, but about the nuclear potential of both Muslim countries.

By Brig (R) Saleem Qamar Butt, SI(M) | August 2025


Is Pakistan the next target? Or was it first? The recent Israel and U.S. joint attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities have once again confirmed that a nuclear-armed Muslim country is unacceptable to the West. Destruction of Iran’s nuclear military potential and termination, or freeze and then rollback of Pakistan’s nuclear and long-range missile programme by ‘carrots and sticks’ policy has never been off the table. Following the dictum, “Never lower your target; increase your actions,” Western efforts have always been in place to keep its dominant political, economic, and security architecture intact. For that, the misuse of “Islamic threat” has been as indispensable for them as water for fish.

Iran: Western estimates for May 2025 suggested that Iran could produce enough weapons-grade uranium for one nuclear bomb within a week and accumulate enough for seven within a month, raising fears that its breakout time has shortened drastically. The destruction of Israel, nuclear proliferation, nuclear terrorism, and increased support for insurgency are frequently cited as several strategic objectives behind Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The U.S. and Iran have engaged in bilateral negotiations since April 2025, aiming to curb Iran’s programme. On June 12, 2025, the IAEA found Iran non-compliant with its nuclear obligations for the first time in 20 years. On June 13, 2025, Israel attacked the nuclear plants as part of the June 2025 Israeli strikes on Iran. On June 21, the U.S. bombed the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, the Natanz Nuclear Facility, and the Isfahan nuclear technology center. The Pentagon has announced that United States military strikes against Iran set back the country’s nuclear programme by one to two years, an assessment that followed President Donald Trump’s tall claims that the programme was “obliterated”. With a quick ceasefire in place now, both the USA and Iran have shown readiness to resume briefly suspended dialogue as Iran remains conscious of fulfilling its long-sought-after dreams and America’s compulsion to maintain the formidable Iranian threat alive to keep the oil and gas-rich Arabs in the fold.

Pakistan: After suffering the greatest humiliation of losing East Pakistan in 1971, the dream of acquiring an Atomic Bomb as an effective deterrence against numerically superior India was considered an unavoidable national security obligation. The struggle by Pakistan to go ahead with this dream is a tale of great dedication and sacrifices by the people of Pakistan, successive governments, military bureaucracy, and the concerned metallurgists and nuclear scientists. The 1974 Islamic Summit in Lahore, and Pakistan’s subsequent efforts to pursue nuclear programme with alleged monetary support from some Muslim countries resulted in unnatural death of former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and later President General Zia-Ul-Haq, unceremonious ouster of President Pervaiz Musharraf and contemptuous dismissal of father of Pakistan nuclear programme Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. Besides, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Gaddafi of Libya, and Saddam Hussein of Iraq were killed for allegedly pursuing or supporting nuclear ambitions.

Following India’s surprise nuclear test, code-named Smiling Buddha in 1974, the goal to develop Pakistan’s nuclear weapons received considerable impetus. Finally, on May 28, 1998, with divine help, a few weeks after India’s second nuclear test (Operation Shakti), Pakistan detonated five nuclear devices and became the first Muslim country with military nuclear capability. However, since 1981 to date, there have been several overt and covert efforts planned by India, Israel, and the U.S. to sabotage Pakistan nuclear and missile capabilities including all possible delivery means but in vain; the most recent one was made in May 2025 that turned out to be an ‘Ephemeral Blitz.’

According to various sources’ assessment, Pakistan possesses around 100-120 genuine warheads, including or excluding tactical nuclear warheads, with a second strike capability and multiple delivery means. It further strengthens Pakistan’s credible nuclear deterrence, which proved its efficacy on May 10, 2025, with the U.S. jumping into the ring as WWF referee to save its two limping wrestlers, i.e., India & Israel.


There are abundant evidences and analyses in stock by international political and security analysts to prove that maliciously created labels like “Islamic Bomb” and “Islamic Terrorism” have been used since 2001 to annihilate many Muslim countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Syria while using NATO/ISAF invasions of Afghanistan as an excuse and as a base of operations. Nevertheless, since 2001 to date, as evidenced by statements by American and Israeli leadership, taking out Iran’s nuclear potential and undermining Pakistan’s nuclear and missile capabilities have remained the U.S., Israel, and NATO’s highest priority, which is unlikely to change.

Who will be targeted first has always been a matter of debate. One wonders whether the India-Israel joint misadventure of May 7, 2025, of attacking Pakistan’s civil-military targets was an effort to neutralize Pakistan’s counter-strike capability before hitting Iran a few days later, or was it just a test to gauge Pakistan’s politico-military response. Nevertheless, Pakistan’s jaw-breaking military response made the aggressors realize the catastrophic outcome for them promptly, besides its global pitfalls. Thus, the United States was quick to secure a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and India immediately agreed to it with deep political, military, and economic setbacks.

Without capitulating to any sense of complacency, Pakistan’s demonstrated resolve and capacity to thwart aggression from any foe should have served as a stern warning that the dreams of undermining Pakistan’s nuclear and missile capabilities are no longer discursive and will, in fact, be maintained as a “National Survival Kit,” come what may. Needless to say, it also serves as a guarantor of regional and international peace and stability.

Thus, one could reasonably conclude that Pakistan was higher on the target list and will remain so. However, the degradation of a budding nuclear-capable Iran is considered an easier option by the haughty aggressors. The failed attempt to destroy Pakistan’s AD system, air bases, and sensitive military installations, as well as Iran-Israel-USA, meaningfully paused conflict has frustrated the Israeli hawks but also enabled them to refit and refine their sinister plans. There are several examples from the most recent history (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Palestine/Gaza), including May 10 and June 24, 2025, announced ceasefire, that a semi-permanent pause during a conflict is also used as a continuation of War “by other means.” Nevertheless, what stays in place is the will of the belligerents to achieve their respective aims and objectives.

Overall, presently, both Pakistan and Iran stand on higher moral grounds with even better national unity, greater morale, and improved regional standing by bravely facing the Indian, Israeli, and Western aggression. It is time for the Muslim majority countries to pay heed to the old maxim, “United we stand, divided we fall,” and prove to the Axis of Evil that “Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see”.

‘Criminals usually prey on weakness; They can smell it.’ The uncalled-for hostility against Pakistan and Iran was not about supporting Kashmir or Palestine, but about the nuclear potential of both Muslim countries. The biggest lesson is that for survival as a respectable nation, in addition to membership of a credible regional political, economic and military alliances like SCO, CSTO, and ECO; the belief in national ideology, wholehearted public support, an honest judiciary, a truly representative resilient political system, a stable economy, and matchless military capabilities are essential ingredients as one package

Read More

One thought on “War by other Means”

  • Saud Ahmef
    August 6, 2025 at 2:13 pm
    Permalink

    I think the American instance and praise is just like to have access to Pakistan’s minerals in Bal/KPK. They did it in Afghanistan for this and took out lithium and other minerals and than left the Afghan stranded. Something like this they will do with Pakistan’s minerals. How come the Pakistan and it’s powerful eletrs suddenly becomes so liked and praise worthy. All to get hold of assets of these two provences, support their liberation elements eco and mil and also win heart of locals. Therefore with covertly in connivance of India-Israel they will ultimately support their liberation and pass resolution in UN to announce their separation from Pakistan, while staying there as was in Afghanistan. By this they counter remaining Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, China and also Russia.

    Reply