Pak won’t start military conflict with India: PM

Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday both Pakistan and India are nuclear-armed states and escalation of tension may threaten world peace, adding that Pakistan will never start a military conflict.

He said the two countries were sitting on a ticking bomb that warranted a joint strategy to resolve grave issues of poverty, joblessness and imminent threat of climate change rather than talking of war.

"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.

"Soon after assuming the office of prime minister, I decided to improve Pak-India bilateral relations and asserted if India takes one step forward, we will reach out with two steps. I spoke to Indian premier Narendra Modi and advised him that the 72-year long-standing issue of Kashmir could be resolved through dialogue," he said and regretted that the response was condescending.

The prime minister said the turn of events during the past one year saw India asking for various conditions as if it was a super power and talking to a poor country, adding that war could not be a solution to any problem and those looking for this option were fools.

Warning that wars lead to more crises and problems than resolving issues at hand, Khan said those who tried the war option regretted for many years to come.

Khan also strongly condemned the 27-day-long curfew in occupied Kashmir to confine eight million Kashmiris in their homes without any food and medicines.

He urged the Sikh community to raise their voice against oppression and torture being committed against Muslims in India and held Kashmir. Welcoming the Sikhs to visit their holy places in Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib, the prime minister said the Pakistan government would fully facilitate the Sikh community and offer multiple visas in due course of time.