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Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Threatens To Nuke India

'We've not made atomic device to display in a showcase'.
Pakistan Minister of Defence Muhammad Asif Khawaja at the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial at Lancaster House in London.
Adrian Dennis/PA Wire
Pakistan Minister of Defence Muhammad Asif Khawaja at the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial at Lancaster House in London.

As India handed over proof to Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit that the terrorists, who killed 18 soldiers in this month's deadly attack on an army installation in Uri, belonged to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, the neighbouring country's Defence Minister on Tuesday launched a fresh tirade, threatening nuclear strikes against New Delhi if it retaliated against the killings.

Men arrested by Indian agencies have told investigators that they helped the four terrorists cross the border, serving as guides, according to NDTV.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar handed over the names of the two guides from Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir -- Faizal Hussain Awan, 20, and Yasin Khursheed, 19 -- who helped the terrorists.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif meanwhile has alleged that the assault on an Indian army base was a "plan devised by India".

"We will destroy India if it dares to impose war on us. Pakistan army is fully prepared to answer any misadventure of India."

He claimed that India "orchestrated Uri attack to divert the attention of the world from the Kashmir issue".

"We will destroy India if it dares to impose war on us. Pakistan army is fully prepared to answer any misadventure of India," he told private TV channel SAMAA.

He was replying to a question about India's intention to carry out surgical strike in Pakistan.

"We have not made atomic device to display in a showcase. If a such a situation arises we will use it and eliminate India," Asif said the channel.

He said Pakistan Air Force is ready to give a befitting response to India if it violates Pakistan's airspace.

The Pakistani minister claimed that the "entire world knows now that India is not as serious about resolving the Kashmir dispute as Pakistan is".

"Five or 10 voices raised against us are not enough evidence to declare Pakistan a terrorist state," he said.

Announcing the decision, India said that "one country" has created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the Summit.

"India has conveyed to current SAARC Chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Member States by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November 2016," External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

"In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad," it said.

"We also understand that some other SAARC Member States have also conveyed their reservation about attending the Islamabad Summit in November 2016," it said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has said it will will approach the UN and the International Court of Justice if India suspends the 56-year-old Indus Waters Treaty, the country's top diplomat Sartaj Aziz said.

"The international law states that India cannot unilaterally separate itself from the treaty," Aziz, Advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs, said while briefing the National Assembly on the issue.

He said unilateral revocation of the treaty can pose a threat to Pakistan and its economy. He said that if India violates the treaty, Pakistan can approach the International Court of Justice.

"This Indian act can be taken as breach of international peace and hence giving Pakistan a good reason to approach the UN Security Council," Aziz said.

He said Pakistan is considering to draw attention of the international community on the dangers of such an action if it is considered seriously.

"Between the two countries, this act of revocation can be taken as an act of war," he said.

Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, water of six rivers - Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum - were to be shared between the two countries.

(With PTI inputs)

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