Pakistan denounces Modi’s nuclear threat as ‘highly unfortunate and irresponsible'

Nuclear weapons not being kept for Diwali, Indian PM had said in an election rally

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reacted strongly to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent anti-Pakistan statements, terming them “highly unfortunate and irresponsible”.

Modi, while addressing an election rally in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh on Sunday, claimed that New Delhi had stopped its policy of being frightened by ‘Islamabad’s threats’ and said that its nuclear capabilities were not being kept for Diwali.

Responding to the threats, Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal on Monday said Pakistan considered these remarks as “highly unfortunate and irresponsible”.

“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,” he said in a statement.

“We would also like to draw attention to the remarks of the Indian prime minister, sensationally referring to the night of February 27, 2019 and the missile related threat from India as ‘Qatal ki Raat’ (the night of murder). 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’.”

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Dr Faisal said such nuclear brinksmanship must be discouraged, adding that in the interest of the region, both countries should resume dialogue and discuss confidence building and restraint measures for the long-term strategic stability in South Asia.

Detention of JKLF chairman condemned

Pakistan has strongly condemned the continuing incarceration and deteriorating health of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Yasin Malik, since February 22, 2019, on trumped up charges.

Malik was arrested earlier under the draconian Public Safety Law and despite his critically worsening health was shifted to the notorious Tihar jail.

Despite his serious ill health and in violation of legal rights, ethics and norms, his family, who were informed after considerable delay, has not been permitted to meet him.

Given the previous history of the Indian government’s mistreatment and violation of human rights of Kashmiri leaders, frequently subjecting them to torture and imprisoning them under fabricated charges due to their political beliefs, the apprehensions of Malik’s family members and Kashmiris in general about the safety and health of Malik are justified.

“His incarceration is yet another link in the series of steps taken by India to continue its intensified oppression of the Kashmiri people struggling for the realisation of the legitimate right to self-determination,” said an FO statement.

Indian draconian laws, including the Public Safety Act, which are in blatant violation of fundamental human rights, which grant immunity to Indian occupation forces to operate with impunity, to arrest (up to two years without trial) and kill innocent Kashmiris, without any fear of prosecution, have also been strongly criticised by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UK All Party Parliamentary Kashmir Group.

“Coercive Indian measures and brutalities against Kashmiris in IOK will not change the universally accepted reality of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, but will only aggravate the situation,” added the statement. “We expect the government of India to ensure the wellbeing of Malik, including provision of adequate health care and call upon the international community to impress upon India to desist from such inhuman actions, abolish draconian laws like PSA and Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which perpetuate Indian atrocities in IOK, stop harassing and victimising Kashmiris in IOK and expedite the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with the UNSC resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.”