India Not Scared Of Pakistan's Nuclear Threats: Eastern Army Commander's Befitting Reply To Imran Khan

Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after India abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, evoking strong reactions from Pakistan.

In a befitting reply to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan who threatened nuclear war with India over the issue of Kashmir, Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen M M Naravane on Tuesday said the neighbouring country can keep raising its "nuclear bogey", but India will not be scared of such threats.

New Delhi: In a befitting reply to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan who threatened nuclear war with India over the issue of Kashmir, Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen M M Naravane on Tuesday said the neighbouring country can keep raising its "nuclear bogey", but India will not be scared of such threats. "They can keep raising the nuclear bogey, we are not scared of that," the Army vice-chief designate said during an interaction on 'Defending our Borders' at the Bharat Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata. Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after India abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, evoking strong reactions from Pakistan. Imran Khan, who adressed Pakistan on the Kashmir situation on Monday, said that Pakistan will go to any extent on the issue. He also said he will raise the Kasmir issue at every international forum, including the UN General Assembly. "If the [Kashmir] conflict moves towards war then remember both nations have nuclear weapons and no one is a winner in a nuclear war. It will have global ramifications. The superpowers of the world have a huge responsibility...whether they support us or not, Pakistan will do everything possible," Imran Khan said in his address. Speaking on revoking of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, Naravane said that Article 370 was removed as it outlived its utility. He said that Article 370 had a meaning at the time it was incorporated. "It was an enabling provision, it has outlived its utility and so has been removed," he said. Watch | Pakistan panics after PM Modi, Trump agree Kashmir is a bilateral issue Naravane also said that it is not true that people of Jammu and Kashmir are not welcoming the change, and pointed out that 55 per cent of the now-bifurcated state constitutes Ladakh."... In the Kashmir part, there are only five districts responsible for all the mayhem (insurgency in the Valley over the years), so will only five districts hold the whole country to ransom?" he said. "We will deal with it as and when incidents occur, but I think they will also realise in the long run the law of diminishing returns... that if you want better and brighter future for yourself and your children, peace is the only way," Naravane said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France on Monday, had categorically rejected any scope for third party mediation between India and Pakistan on Kashmir. (with inputs from PTI)