Imran Khan makes U-turn, says Pakistan would not use nuclear weapons first

Days after making a threat of using nuclear weapons against India, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has made a U-turn. Khan said that Pakistan stands by 'no first use' doctrine when it comes to using nuclear weapons.

"We will never start the war. Both Pakistan and India are nuclear powers and if tension escalates the world will face danger," Khan said while addressing a gathering of the Sikh community at the Governor's House in Lahore.

It is the latest example of a flip-flop by Imran Khan, although the Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson sought to put a spin on Khan's remarks by saying that his comments were taken out of context and that they did not represent a change in Pakistan's nuclear policy.

"PM was simply reiterating Pakistan's commitment to peace and the need for both nuclear states to demonstrate responsible behaviour," spokesman Mohammad Faisal said on his official Twitter account.

Pakistan has resorted to nuclear blackmail every time it has been pushed to the wall.

And true to form, Pakistan has ratcheted up the nuclear rhetoric after recent Indian moves on Jammu and Kashmir. It starts right at the top - with Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In an article published by the New York Times newspaper of the United States, Khan said that if the world does nothing to stop the alleged Indian assault on Jammu and Kashmir and its people, two nuclear-armed states will get ever closer to a direct military confrontation.

Khan is not alone - some of his cabinet ministers have been equally indiscreet.

Sheikh Rashid, Pakistan's minister of railways, boasts of Pakistan having small nukes.

Imran Khan's nuclear bombast is the latest in a series of embarrassing moves by Pakistan. He gave the call for a so-called "Kashmir solidarity hour" to be observed every Friday at noon local time.

But if the response to his call was anything to go by, last Friday's "Kashmir solidarity hour" proved to be a damp squib.