Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ruled out any chance of a nuclear clash with India during the recent conflict, saying the country’s nuclear weapons are meant only for defence and peace.read more
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday rejected suggestions that the
recent conflict with India could lead to a nuclear exchange. He said Pakistan’s
nuclear weapons are meant only for peaceful purposes and self-defence, ’ not for aggression’.
Speaking to Pakistani students in Islamabad, Sharif recalled the four-day
military standoff, during which 55 Pakistanis were killed in Indian strikes. He said Pakistan had responded “with full might” during the escalation.
When asked about the use of nuclear weapons, Sharif stressed, “Pakistan’s nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes and national defence, not for aggression.”
Pahalgam terror attack and India’s Operation Sindoor
The conflict began after a
terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 civilians. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
On May 7, Indian forces carried out strikes on nine terror sites, including Bahawalpur, known as a stronghold of the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group. These strikes were part of the retaliation for the Pahalgam attack.
‘India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail’: PM Modi
Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first address to the nation after the operation, said India “will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail” while taking action against terrorism and Pakistan, which supports it.
He added that India has set a “new normal” in responding to terror attacks by hitting back in a way that terrorists understand.
Rumours of Zardari’s resignation and Munir’s presidential ambitions are unfounded: Sharif
Amid rumours of a possible leadership change in Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has dismissed claims that President Asif Ali Zardari may step down or that Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is aiming for the presidency.
In an interview with The News on Friday, Sharif called the reports “baseless speculation,” saying, “Field Marshal Asim Munir has never shown any interest in becoming president, and there are no such plans.”
He also stressed that his relationship with both Zardari and Munir is built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to Pakistan’s progress.