Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 22, 2019. Photo: AFP 0 Advanced issues found ▲ Advanced issues found

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday that Pakistan would be willing to give up its nuclear weapons if India did the same.



In an interview with Fox News, Prime Minister Imran Khan who had earlier met with US President Donald Trump was asked how Pakistan would respond if India said it was giving up its nuclear weapons.

“Nuclear war is not an option between Pakistan and India. The idea of nuclear war is actually self-destruction,” said the prime minister.

Pakistan carried out airstrikes and shot down two Indian military jets in February, a day after Indian warplanes intruded Pakistan airspace for the first time since a war in 1971, prompting leading powers to urge both of the nuclear-armed countries to show restraint. Tension had elevated since the Pulwama attack on February 14 in which over 40 Indian paramilitaries were killed in occupied Kashmir.

Speaking on the recent tensions between the two South Asian neighbours in February, Prime Minister Imran Khan said he had asked President Trump to play his role and mediate between the two countries.

“The US is the most powerful country in the world, the only country which could mediate between Pakistan and India and resolve the only issue which is Kashmir. The only reason for 70 years we have not been able to live like civilised neighbours is Kashmir,” Prime Minister Imran Khan told Fox News.

“I really feel that India should come on the table, US could play a big part, and President Trump can certainly play a big part. We are talking about 1.3 billion people on this earth. Imagine the dividends of peace if somehow that issue could be resolved,” he added.