By CCN.com: India’s prime minister Narendra Modi has threatened to wipe Pakistan out with the “mother of nuclear bombs.”

The threatening speech came, ironically, on India’s national day of peace, known as Mahavir Jayanti. Speaking in front of packed crowds, Modi said:

“We have the mother of nuclear bombs. I decided to tell [Pakistan], do whatever you want to do but we will retaliate.”

Oops, he did it again. Prime Minister Modi reminded voters of the air strike on Pakistan at a campaign rally in Chhattisgarh. pic.twitter.com/kG8VZYi5az — Brut India (@BrutIndia) April 17, 2019

“It’s Pakistan’s Turn to Weep”

Modi dialed up the military threat against Pakistan proclaiming his “new India” will act tough on terrorists.

“Earlier, terrorists from Pakistan would come here and go back after conducting an attack. Pakistan would threaten us, saying it has the nuclear bomb and will press the button… In the past our people would weep, go around the world saying Pakistan did this, did that. It is now Pakistan’s turn to weep.”

Modi’s aggression is a strong statement of intent as he fights a bitter seven-part election in India. He also hinted that Indian forces could launch a ground attack:

“Shall we not kill them by entering their houses?”

Inside the India’s massive general election – the world’s largest democratic exercise https://t.co/FRkJqqFDPv pic.twitter.com/SJfvl62V24 — Reuters (@Reuters) April 13, 2019

India and Pakistan Nuclear Knife Edge

The two nuclear-armed nations have been locked in a tense standoff since February this year.

Tensions flared when 40 Indians were killed in a suicide attack. An attack for which Pakistani based terrorist group JeM claimed responsibility.

India struck back with airstrikes across the controversial Line of Control. In this week’s speech, Modi boasted about the airstrikes: “Pakistan has been threatening us for a long time with its nuclear capability but the IAF called its bluff with its strikes.”

India Just Triggered a Ballistic “Space Weapon” and Pakistan Should Be Terrified https://t.co/kXE4ThXn4f — CCN.com (@CCNMarkets) March 27, 2019

Since then, both sides have aggressively displayed their military might. Pakistan pointed a fleet of fighter jets at the border, while India went a step further, shooting down a satellite with a ballistic space missile.

Where Is the West?

Despite the intensifying threat of nuclear war in the Indian subcontinent, the global community is eerily quiet.

The US, in particular, has long played a mediator role in the region, helping to dial down aggression between India and Pakistan when tensions flared. Under Donald Trump, however, there is no such mediator.

Aside from a handful of empty statements and choking aid to Pakistan, the Trump administration has largely ignored the developing conflict.

Path to World War Three?

While global conflict might seem unlikely, there are complex ties at play here. China has positioned itself a key ally behind Pakistan, while India has close relationships with the US and Russia.

Military escalation between India and Pakistan has potentially huge ramifications on international relations. The US, China, and Russia could be inadvertently dragged into a conflict they could have prevented earlier.

For now, India’s threat is clear: it intends to strike Pakistani territory again: