Washington - Nuclear war in the region is not an option; Trump could play part in mediating Indo-Pak relations.
Published: Tue 23 Jul 2019, 4:22 PM
Last updated: Wed 24 Jul 2019, 9:55 AM
Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday dismissed the notion of any nuclear war between Pakistan and India, saying his country would give up its weapons, if its eastern neighbour did the same.
In an interview with Fox News, the Prime Minister responded in affirmative when asked "If India said we would give up nuclear weapons, would Pakistan?
"Yes, because nuclear war is not an option. And between Pakistan and India, the idea of nuclear war is actually self-destruction, because we have a 2,500-mile border.
"Also, I think there's a realisation in the subcontinent - as there was some incident that happened last February - and we again had tension at the border.
An Indian plane was shot down in Pakistan," Khan said while referring to the Indian violation of Pakistan's air space and bombing an alleged militant camp on a hillside.
He told Bret Bier of the Fox News that it was this very "realisation" that made him ask US President Donald Trump to play his role in mediating relations between the two countries. Khan added that the the US was the most powerful country in the world - "the only country that could mediate between Pakistan and India, and the only issue is Kashmir."
Khan said "the only reason for 70 years, that we have not been able to live like civilised neighbors, is because of Kashmir."
Trump in his meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Oval office had offered US mediation on the 70-year old lingering Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan.
India's foreign ministry has said that "no such request has been made by Prime Minister Modi".
Khan said "I really feel that India should come on the table."
He admitted that on one occasion the late Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee and former Pakistan President Musharraf did come close to a resolution, but since then, the two countries have been poles apart.
"The US could play a big part, President Trump certainly can play a big part.
We are talking about 1.3 billion people (in the subcontinent) on this Earth. Imagine the dividends of peace if somehow that issue could be resolved," Khan said.
Khan categorically dismissed any "concerns" about Pakistan's nuclear weapons getting into the hands of terrorists.
"Pakistan has one of the most professional armies and one of the most comprehensive command and control systems for our nuclear weapons."
"They have absolutely no need to worry," Khan said, and added "the United States knows about it because we share our intelligence with the US about the safety measures in place for our nuclear programme."
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