We Don't Have Any 'No First Use' Policy On Nukes: Pakistan Military Denies Imran Khan's Claims

Days after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan vowed that his country will never start a nuclear war with India first, neighbouring country's military has clarified that it does not follow the 'no first use' policy on nuclear weapons.

Ghafoor also said that the first strike could follow with the second strike. (Screengrab/ @OfficialDGISPR- Twitter)

Rawalpindi: Days after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan vowed that his country will never start a nuclear war with India first, neighbouring country's military has clarified that it does not follow the 'no first use' policy on nuclear weapons. According to a report by news agency PTI, Pakistan's military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor on Wednesday denied to be a part of 'no first use' accord on nuclear bomb usage. Ghafoor also said that the first strike could follow with the second strike. While speaking at a media briefing in Rawalpindi, Ghafoor was asked about his take over Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's comment last month that India may witness a change in its 'no first use' nuclear policy depending upon the situation. Speaking about the same, Ghafoor said, "We don't have any 'no first use' policy. Our weapons are for deterrence. As far as India is concerned, it is up to them to formulate any policy." Ghafoor's comment on nuclear weapons doctrine once again came as a mismatch of statement by Pakistan government and its military as Imran Khan has recently stated that his country will never ever start a war with India, amid escalating tensions between the nuclear powers over the Kashmir issue. "Nuclear countries have no room for war," the military's spokesperson said. “We will never ever start the war. Both Pakistan and India are nuclear powers and if tension escalates, the world will face danger,” Pakistan PM had said earlier this week. Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated after New Delhi on August 5 revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcated it into two union territories. Reacting to India's move on Kashmir, Pakistan downgraded its diplomatic ties with New Delhi and expelled the Indian High Commissioner. India and Pakistan ties nosedived after January 2016 terror attack on the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot by Pakistan-based terrorists. Relations between the two nations further deteriorated after a Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) terror group's suicide bomber killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14 this year.