‘Will use full spectrum of power’: Pak’s nuclear threat on ‘imminent strike’ by India
Pakistan’s ambassador to Russia, Muhammad Khalid Jamali, claims Islamabad has credible intelligence that India is planning to launch military strikes on Pakistani territory
In the latest among a slew of threats from Pakistan’s side amid tensions with India post the Pahalgam terror attack, the country’s envoy to Russia has warned that Islamabad will use the “full spectrum of power” including deploying nuclear weapons if New Delhi launches an attack on his country.
‘Will use full spectrum of power’
Speaking with Russian broadcaster RT on Saturday (May 3), Pakistan’s ambassador to Russia, Muhammad Khalid Jamali, said Islamabad has received intelligence that India is planning to launch military strikes on Pakistani territory.
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“The frenzy media of India and the irresponsible statements coming out from that side have compelled us. There are some other leaked documents whereby it has been decided to strike certain areas of Pakistan,” Jamali told the channel.
“So that makes us feel that this is going to happen and it’s imminent,” he said.
The envoy stressed that in case India attacks Pakistan, the latter will retaliate with both conventional and nuclear attacks. “When it comes to India and Pakistan, we don’t want to get involved into this debate of numerical strength. We in Pakistan will use the full spectrum of power, both conventional and nuclear,” he said.
Threat of nuclear war
This is the second such threat of nuclear war from Pakistan’s side ever since India downgraded its diplomatic relations with the neighbouring country following reports of its hand in the Pahalgam terror attacks in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were gunned down by terrorists.
Earlier, Pakistan’s minister Hanif Abbasi had threatened India of a nuclear response, stating that Pakistan’s arsenal of Ghori, Shaheen and Ghaznavi missiles and 130 nuclear warheads have been kept “only for India”.
Also read: Pakistan shuts ports for Indian ships in tit-for-tat response to New Delhi
Ties between the two neighbouring countries plummeted following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
India, among other punitive actions, announced the suspension of the 1960 accord, which governs water sharing between the two countries.
On Indus Water Treaty
At Saturday’s interview, Jamali said the suspension of the treaty was an act of war.
“Any attempt to usurp the water of the lower riparian, or to stop it, or to divert it would be an act of war against Pakistan and would be responded to with full force of power, including full spectrum of power,” he said in the interview.
On Friday, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned India that it would strike any structure that is built on the Indus River in “violation of the Indus Waters Treaty”, which was suspended following the Pahalgam terror attack.
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Speaking on a Geo News programme, the defence minister said, “Certainly, if they attempt to build any kind of structure, we will strike it.” Asif said that building any structure on the Indus River would be seen as “Indian aggression” against Pakistan.
Defence minister’s warning
“Aggression is not just about firing cannons or bullets; it has many faces. One of those faces is [blocking or diverting water], which could lead to deaths due to hunger and thirst,” he added.
The defence minister said, “If they make any architectural attempt, then Pakistan will destroy that structure.
“But for now, we are heading to forums available to us, starting from the IWT [Indus Waters Treaty]. We will pursue this matter."