Anadolu |
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday urged the international community to take steps to secure India’s nuclear arsenal after New Delhi hinted a shift in its nuclear weapon policy.
“The World must also seriously consider the safety & security of India’s nuclear arsenal in the control of the fascist, racist Hindu Supremacist Modi Govt. This is an issue that impacts not just the region but the world,” he said in a tweet.
The World must also seriously consider the safety & security of India's nuclear arsenal in the control of the fascist, racist Hindu Supremacist Modi Govt. This is an issue that impacts not just the region but the world.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 18, 2019
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that while India had strictly adhered to the nuclear weapon doctrine of “no first use policy”, yet what would happen in future will depend on circumstances.
Pokhran is the area which witnessed Atal Ji’s firm resolve to make India a nuclear power and yet remain firmly committed to the doctrine of ‘No First Use’. India has strictly adhered to this doctrine. What happens in future depends on the circumstances.
— Rajnath Singh (मोदी का परिवार) (@rajnathsingh) August 16, 2019
Khan also drew attention of the world to the plight of 9 million Kashmiris who have been kept under a communication blockade by the Indian government.
India has been captured, as Germany had been captured by Nazis, by a fascist, racist Hindu Supremacist ideology & leadership.This threatens 9m Kashmiris under siege in IOK for over 2 weeks which shd have sent alarm bells ringing across the world with UN Observers being sent there
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 18, 2019
Mounting tensions between the nuclear-armed Pakistan and India have further flared following the scrapping of the special status of the picturesque Himalayan state.
Kashmiri leaders and citizens fear this step is an attempt by India to change the demography of the Muslim-majority state, where some groups have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.
Read more: Over 4,000 imprisoned in Kashmir since lockdown began: sources
India and Pakistan both hold Jammu and Kashmir in parts and claim it in full. The two countries have fought two wars over Kashmir.
Both countries have been to war over Kashmir three times in the past. However, both countries being armed with nuclear weapons bring an unprecedented threat of mutual destruction in case of war this time.
Tensions also flared up last February after Indian jets crossed into Pakistani airspace after a terror attack in India Occupied Kashmir that the Modi government claimed was sponsored by Pakistan. At least 40 security personnel were killed in the attack.
Read more: Hindu Nationalism and Kashmir: Modi inspired by Hitler?
Pakistan soon responded with airstrikes of its own, downing two Indian planes and capturing an Indian pilot. The pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was released after almost three days in custody in an effort to de-escalate.
Anadolu with additional input from GVS News Desk