US is keeping a tab on the activities in Pakistan and its nuclear arsenal.
Pakistan has received yet another strongly worded message from the United States, warning it to hold back comments on using nuclear weapons against India and has been asked to exercise restraint while talking about attacking other countries.
US state department spokesman Mark Toner during a briefing said: “I would just say nuclear-capable states have a very clear responsibility to exercise restraint regarding nuclear weapons and missile capabilities.”
He also added, “And that’s my message publicly and that’s certainly our message directly to the Pakistani authorities.”
Even though Toner didn’t take on Pakistan in the later part of his speech, it is evident that the US is keeping a tab on the activities in Pakistan and its nuclear arsenal not only because of the fear of it being used in the regional context but also because of the fear of dreaded terrorist organizations roaming freely in Pakistan getting access to the deadly weapons.
There is growing fear among international community over the growing nuclear capabilities of Pakistan, which according to India, is a country breeding and exporting terrorists internationally.
After the Uri terror attack and the counter surgical strike conducted by India crossing the Line of Control, demolishing Jaish-e-Muhammad run terror camps that were guarded by Pak soldiers, there has been an escalation in threats from Pakistan about it using the nuclear weapon against India.
While India maintained restraints while talking about attacking Pakistan, reiterating that it is hunting down only terrorists and not its army or citizens, the Pakistani defense minister Khawaja Asif told a Pakistani TV channel last Monday that “We will destroy India if it dares to impose war on us. Pakistan army is fully prepared to answer any misadventure of India.”
He also warned India saying “We have not made an atomic device to display in a showcase. If such a situation arises we will use it and eliminate India,” A similar statement was made by the Pakistan defense minister on September 17, the day before the Uri attack.
Even though Pakistan defense minister attempted to intimidate India with his bragging of Pakistan’s weapon capacity, two days after his interview, the Indian army crossed the LoC, took down over 35 terrorists camped in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in what India has called a successful ‘surgical strike.’
Even though Pakistan has denied India’s claim of crossing the LoC, its Generals and politicians have since talked about it using low yield, tactical weapons on India that can cause less devastation than strategic nuclear weapons that can destroy entire towns and cities.
“Our nuclear program is one dimensional: Stopping Indian aggression before it happens. It is not for starting a war. It is for deterrence,” foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhry said during a visit to the US in 2015.