FO terms Modi’s statement on nuclear arsenal as ‘highly unfortunate’

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Monday issued a statement, expressing ‘disappointment’ over statement made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over nuclear arsenals, ARY News reported.

Modi on Sunday claimed that New Delhi had stopped its policy of being frightened by Islamabad’s threats and said its nuclear capabilities are not being kept for Diwali. He made this addressing a rally as part of his election campaign in Rajasthan.

Responding to a question regarding Prime Minister Modi’s recent remarks on Indian nuclear capability, the Foreign Office spokesperson stated that Pakistan considered those remarks as ‘highly unfortunate and irresponsible’.

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He said such rhetoric for short-term political and electoral gains, with complete disregard to its effects on strategic stability in South Asia, was regrettable and against norms of responsible nuclear behaviour.

“We would also like to draw attention to the remarks of the Indian Prime Minister, sensationally referring to the night of 27 February 2019 and the missile related threat from India as ‘the night of murder’. It clearly contradicts the position of Indian officials, who had tried to give an impression that there were no such plans of India and instead had blamed Pakistan for ‘whipping up war hysteria’,” the spokesperson added.

The FO said such nuclear brinksmanship needs to be discouraged. “It is in the interest of the region that both countries resume dialogue and discuss confidence building and restraint measures for the long-term strategic stability in South Asia,” he added.