We don’t have any ‘no first use’ policy : Pakistan military reverses Imran Khan’s statement

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan made a statement that his country will not use nuclear weapons first, whereas his country’s military today stated that they do not follow the “no first use” policy on nuclear weapons. Tensions between India and Pakistan have begun soon after the special status to Jammu and Kashmir’s and bifurcated it into two union territories.

The statement was made at a media when Major General Asif Ghafoor was asked about the statement by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh last month that India may see a major shift with a ‘no first use policy’ in the future. “The government firmly stands by its ‘No First Use’ policy but “what happens in future will depend on the circumstances,” Rajnath Singh had said.

“We don’t have any “no first use” policy… Our weapons are for deterrence. As far as India is concerned, it us up to them to formulate any policy,” Pakistan military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said.

Ghafoor’s statement came days after Prime Minister Imran Khan said that his country will never ever start a war with India. “The first strike could follow with the second strike. Nuclear countries have no room for war”, said Gafroor.

Earlier this week Imran Khan said that there will be no first use of nuclear weapons from the Pakistani side. “We both are nuclear-armed countries. If these tensions increase, the world could be in danger,” Mr Khan had said addressing members of the Sikh community in Lahore.

India has strongly criticised Pakistan for making irresponsible statements about abrogation of Article 370. India has maintained that it is an internal matter, whereas Pakistan has been trying to raise the issue.