Pakistan would not use nuclear weapons first, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday, amid tensions with archrival India after New Delhi revoked the special status of its part of the disputed Kashmir region.
"We both are nuclear-armed countries. If these tensions increase, the world could be in danger," Khan said, addressing members of the Sikh religious community in the eastern city of Lahore. "There will be no first from our side ever," he said.
A Pakistani Foreign Ministry's spokesman subsequently said on Twitter that the comments were being taken out of context and did not represent a change in Pakistan's nuclear policy.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.