From Nuclear Threats to Peace: Shahbaz Sharif's Shift on Pakistan's Nukes

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Pakistan, which had repeatedly threatened India with a nuclear attack during Operation 'Sindoor', now seems to be backing down. Recently, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has completely dismissed the fears of a possible nuclear conflict with India. This statement has come just a few days after the Indian military action.

Addressing students in Islamabad, Sharif said, "Pakistan's nuclear programme is solely for maintaining peace and safeguarding its national interests and not for aggression."

Tone changed after Operation Sindoor

This statement of Prime Minister Sharif came after Operation 'Sindoor' launched by the Indian Army in response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. Under this operation, Indian military forces carried out surgical strikes on terrorist bases located in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) and within Pakistan. A total of nine terrorist bases were targeted, including Jaish-e-Mohammed bases in Bahawalpur. In response to the Indian action, the Pakistan Army also claimed retaliation, in which, according to the Pakistani Prime Minister, 55 civilians and security personnel were killed.

U-turn on threat of nuclear attack

Indo-Pak tensions were at their peak after the Pahalgam attack. Pakistan's defence minister had spoken of the possible use of nuclear weapons, although he clarified that "this option will be used only if there is a direct threat to the existence of the country."

Subsequently, former ISI chief Javed Ashraf Qazi also warned that “if a nuclear war breaks out, its impact will not be limited to India-Pakistan but will devastate the entire region.” He compared the nuclear attacks on Japan during World War II and said, “The impact of the two bombs can be seen till today, we have more than 170 weapons—even imagining a war would be devastating.”

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