In a stern warning to India, hours after New Delhi successfully carried out a total of nine precision strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Pakstani defence minister Khawaja Asif said that a possibility of a nuclear war can't be ruled out if there is an extended standoff between the two nations, reported Pakistan-based publication Dawn.
Retaliating against the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed at least 26 lives, Indian armed forces, in early hours of Wednesday carried out missile strikes on multiple terror camps including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base in Muridke.
Speaking to Geo News in an interview, Asif said: “If they (India) impose an all-out war on the region and if such dangers arise in which there is a standoff, then at any time a nuclear war can break out. He further added: “If they (India) aggravate this matter then if a chance of war arises in which there is a sign of nuclear option being used on both sides, then the responsibility for that will be on India.”
Asif's latest warning of a nuclear war can be seen as a departure from his earlier statement in the day where he said Islamabad is ready to "wrap up" tensions with India, if New Delhi de-escalates the situation.
Asif was reported as saying by Bloomberg Television that Pakistan will only respond if attacked."We have been saying all along in the last fortnight that we'll never initiate anything hostile towards India. But if we're attacked, we'll respond. If India backs down, we will definitely wrap up this tension," he said.
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