Can Pakistan Launch Nuclear Weapons? Defence Minister Asif Khawaja Says...

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir. Pakistan's Defence Minister has laid out under what circumstances it could launch nuclear weapons.

Pakistan Defence Minister Asif Khawaja.

Source : Social Media

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif warned on Monday that an Indian military incursion appears imminent following last week's deadly assault on tourists in Kashmir. The attack, which left 26 people dead, sent shockwaves through India, sparking national outrage and demands for retribution. New Delhi was quick to retaliate with border closures, diplomat ousters, and visa cancellations. It also suspended the Indus Waters Treaty. 

Pakistan, in turn, suspended the Simla Agreement. Now, with the tensions between the two neighbours rising by the day, there are concerns of a nuclear war.

"We have reinforced our forces because an Indian incursion is imminent now," Asif said during an interview with news agency Reuters at his office in Islamabad. "In that situation, some strategic decisions have to be made, so those decisions have been taken," he added.

Asif emphasised that India's aggressive rhetoric had intensified, and Pakistan's military had formally alerted the government to prepare for potential hostilities. However, he stopped short of detailing the specific intelligence suggesting that an incursion was near.

Indian officials from the foreign and defence ministries remained tight-lipped, offering no immediate comment on Pakistan's alarming claims, Reuters reported.

Following the deadly incident in Kashmir, India said two of the suspected attackers were Pakistani nationals — an accusation Islamabad has vehemently denied. Pakistan instead called for an independent, neutral investigation to uncover the truth behind the attack.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has taken a hardline stance on national security, vowed to hunt down and punish those responsible, further stoking fears of a military confrontation.

Will Use Nuclear Weapons If...: Khawaja

Amid the escalating crisis, Pakistan remains on high alert. Yet, Asif made it clear that Islamabad's nuclear arsenal would only be deployed if the nation's very existence was threatened. "There has to be a direct threat to our existence for that option to even be considered," said the seasoned politician in the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party.

Seeking to avert a direct conflict, Pakistan has reached out to several key allies, including Gulf nations, China, Britain, and the United States, briefing them on the precarious situation.  "Some of our friends in the Arabian Gulf have engaged both sides," Asif told Reuters, although he refrained from naming the specific countries involved.

China, a longtime strategic partner to Pakistan, urged both sides to show restraint, stating on Monday that it welcomed "all measures" aimed at de-escalation. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump suggested that India and Pakistan must resolve their disputes independently, though the State Department later clarified that Washington remains in touch with both governments, encouraging a "responsible solution".