Pakistan: Won't accept Indian political or military role in Afghanistan
What's the story
Pakistani PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has called for the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution on Kashmir. He also said Pakistan wouldn't accept any political or military role by India in Afghanistan. Abbasi said Pakistan is developing short-range nuclear weapons to deter India's 'cold start doctrine.' Abbasi's comments came at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank in New York.
On India
Abbasi said Pakistan wants "normal relations" with India
Abbasi identified Kashmir as the core issue preventing peace between India and Pakistan. "There is Indian aggression along the Line of Control (LoC), mostly to draw attention away from the genuine struggle of the Kashmiri people," he added. Pakistan has pushed for the implementation of the decades-old UN Security Council resolutions calling for a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir to resolve the issue.
On Afghanistan
Abbasi rejects links between ISI and Haqqani network
Abbasi rejected allegations that the Pakistani ISI has links with the Haqqani network. He said, "we don't accept or see any role politically or militarily for India in Afghanistan" because it would "complicate the situation." His statement indicates Pakistan's disagreement with US President Donald Trump's recently announced Afghanistan policy. Trump had criticized Pakistan for harboring terrorists and urged India to do more in Afghanistan.
On nukes
Abbasi stresses that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is safe
Abbasi said Pakistan hasn't fielded tactical nuclear weapons and has developed short-range ballistic missiles to counter the Indian military's 'Cold Start' doctrine. He asserted that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is safe and secure. He said no extremist or any other element "can gain control of fissile material or a nuclear weapon." He said Pakistan's civilian leadership, not the military, has control over the nuclear weapons.