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PM Khan: Pakistan would not use nuclear weapons first, amid tensions with India

By Asif Shahzad

 

FILE PHOTO: Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan gestures as he speaks during a countrywide 'Kashmir Hour' demonstration to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir, at the Prime Minister's House in Islamabad, Pakistan, August 30, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer

 

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan would not use nuclear weapons first, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday, amid tensions with arch-rival India after New Delhi revoked the special status of its part of the disputed Kashmir region.

 

"We both are nuclear-armed countries. If these tensions increase, the world could be in danger," Khan said, addressing members of the Sikh religious community in the eastern city of Lahore. "There will be no first from our side ever," he said.

 

The foreign ministry's spokesman subsequently said on Twitter that the comments were being taken out of context and did not represent a change in Pakistan's nuclear policy.

 

"PM was simply reiterating Pakistan's commitment to peace and the need for both nuclear states to demonstrate responsible behaviour," spokesman Mohammad Faisal said on his official Twitter account.

 

Tension remains high in Kashmir, where security forces have used tear gas against stone-throwing protesters and the valley remains under lockdown after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to withdraw special rights for the Muslim-majority state on Aug. 5.

 

By stripping Indian-controlled Kashmir of its special status, New Delhi blocked the region's right to frame its own laws and allowed non-residents to buy property there. Delhi said the change would help Kashmir's development, to the benefit of all, but its move angered many residents of the region and was strongly condemned by Pakistan.

 

Khan has so far focused on a global diplomatic campaign condemning India's actions, accusing Modi of committing human rights violations and atrocities in the valley.

 

He has also said frequently that any misadventure between two nuclear-armed nations could endanger the world.

 

Muslim-majority Kashmir has long been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan. Both countries rule parts of Kashmir while claiming it in full. Two of the three wars they have fought have been over it.

 

Also on Monday, Islamabad gave a consular access to an Indian who was given a death sentence for spying by a Pakistani military court, which the International Court of Justice asked Pakistan to review in mid-July.

 

"Pursuant to the decision of the International Court of Justice, Pakistan provided consular access on 02 September, 2019 to India for Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, Indian spy, serving Indian Naval officer," a Pakistani foreign office statement said.

 

The statement said that at India's request, there was no restriction on the language of communication and the access was recorded, which continued for two hours.

 

An Indian external affairs ministry statement said "Jadhav appeared to be under extreme pressure to parrot a false narrative to bolster Pakistan's untenable claims." It said Delhi would wait for a detailed report to determine the extent of conformity to the ICJ directives.

 

(Writing by Asif Shahzad; Additional reporting by Alasdair Pal in New Delhi; Editing by Frances Kerry and Catherine Evans)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-09-03

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[nev]

Why not just have a game of cricket winner takes all, A draw everyone lives happily ever after.

[BestB]

Indian PM said the very same thing just the other week. 

 

Scary thing is both even mentioning it and yet they are not in a full blown war.

[sungod]

Ah yes, Pakistan.

 

They would never commit honor killings and white wash the perpetrators, as they would never cover up gang rape, nor demand someones death because she was of a different religion to Islam and dared to dirty their cup as she drunk from it.

 

Totally believe what he says.

[animalmagic]

3 hours ago, sungod said:

Ah yes, Pakistan.

 

They would never commit honor killings and white wash the perpetrators, as they would never cover up gang rape, nor demand someones death because she was of a different religion to Islam and dared to dirty their cup as she drunk from it.

 

Totally believe what he says.

Ah yes, Religion.

Honour killings and gang rape are a problem in Hindu and Sikh society as well.  Hinduism also has the Caste system where people of their own religion are considered untouchables and their allowed line of work is determined at birth.

[Stargeezr]

I would not want to be in the area or even down wind if either of these countries ever set off a nuke.

Geezer

[sungod]

19 hours ago, animalmagic said:

Ah yes, Religion.

Honour killings and gang rape are a problem in Hindu and Sikh society as well.  Hinduism also has the Caste system where people of their own religion are considered untouchables and their allowed line of work is determined at birth.

Good point and taken onboard. Not as prolific as in Pakistan though.