ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday hit back at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reckless remarks regarding the night of February 27, terming it a statement aimed at “short-term political and electoral gains”, while clearly contradicting its own earlier narrative of blaming Pakistan for war hysteria.
Modi, while addressing an election rally in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh on Sunday, claimed that New Delhi had stopped its policy of being frightened by ‘Islamabad’s threats’ and said that its nuclear capabilities were not being kept for Diwali.
Responding to the threats, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal on Monday said Pakistan considered these remarks as highly unfortunate and irresponsible.
“Such rhetoric for short-term political and electoral gains, with complete disregard to its effects on strategic stability in South Asia is regrettable and against norms of responsible nuclear behavior,” he said in a statement.
“We would also like to draw attention to the remarks of the Indian prime minister, sensationally referring to the night of February 27, 2019 and the missile related threat from India as ‘Qatal ki Raat’ (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’.”
Dr Faisal said such nuclear brinksmanship must be discouraged, adding that in the interest of the region, both countries should resume dialogue and discuss confidence building and restraint measures for the long-term strategic stability in South Asia.