Such rhetoric for short-term electoral gain regrettable: Pak slams Modi's nuke comments
Islamabad [Pakistan], Apr 22 (ANI): Pakistan on Monday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "irresponsible" remarks on Indian nuclear capability, adding that "such rhetoric for short-term political and electoral gains" is regrettable.
ANI
Apr 22, 2019 23:11 IST
Islamabad [Pakistan], Apr 22 (ANI): Pakistan on Monday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "irresponsible" remarks on Indian nuclear capability, adding that "such rhetoric for short-term political and electoral gains" is regrettable.
"Responding to a question regarding Prime Minister Modi’s recent remarks on Indian nuclear capability, the Spokesperson stated that Pakistan considers these remarks as "highly unfortunate and irresponsible," a statement released by the Office of the Spokesperson in Islamabad read.
"Such rhetoric for short-term political and electoral gains, with complete disregard to its effects on strategic stability in South Asia, is regrettable and against norms of responsible nuclear behaviour," the statement added.
Pakistan's Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson also brought attention to Prime Minister Modi's "qatal ki raat" comment during his rally at Patan, Gujarat on April 21.
At the rally, Prime Minister Modi, quoted an American official while saying that a missile threat from India had prompted Pakistan to return Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, else it was going to be a "qatal ki raat."
"It clearly contradicts the position of Indian officials, who had tried to give an impression that there were no such plans of India and instead had blamed Pakistan for ‘whipping up war hysteria’," the statement read.
"Such nuclear brinksmanship needs to be discouraged," the statement outlined, calling for both countries to resume dialogue "and discuss confidence building and restraint measures for the long-term strategic stability in South Asia."
India has maintained that no talks will be held until Pakistan eliminates all kinds of terrorism operating from its soil, especially after the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
India lost 40 CRPF personnel when a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative attacked their convoy in Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14.
In the wake of the gruesome terror attack, most of the international community threw its weight behind India in its fight against terrorism.
Interestingly, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has previously said that there might be a better chance of peace talks with India if PM Modi wins the ongoing 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
"Perhaps if the BJP – a right-wing party — wins, some kind of settlement on Kashmir could be reached,” the Pakistani leader was quoted as saying earlier this month. (ANI)
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