Karachi: Former President Pervez Musharraf termed recent Indian attitude as extremely aggressive, urging Pakistan to adopt a tit-for-tat approach with the same aggressive tone. "Don't attack us, don't challenge our territorial integrity because we are not a small power, we're a major and nuclear power. Don't push us," 71-year-old Musharraf said.
He claimed that India changed its conduct after Narendra Modi assumed the post of the Prime Minister, adding that the bilateral relations between the two countries are being adversely affected owing to a single person.
"India has a hand into aggression that Pakistan is currently fending off. India should not be mistaken even slightly over its dealing with Pakistan, Musharraf firmly said giving message to Pakistan, "Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest). This is my message for all the Pakistanis. Be ready for any situation."
Accusing India of destabilising Pakistan, the former military ruler said that nuclear weapons are for the defence of the country and not for "celebratory" occasion. "We do not want to use nuclear capability but if our existence comes under threat, who do we have these nuclear weapons for? If I say in Chaudhary Shujaat's style, do we have nukes saved to be used on Shab-e-Baraat?" he said.
Musharraf, who ruled from 1999 to 2008, claimed India is carrying an aggressive attitude as a preplanned strategy with the ultimate end game of denuclearising Pakistan.
"We should have self-confidence that India's dream to denuclearise Pakistan is not possible. We won't let their end game materialise," he said.
Pakistan, which owns about 120 nuclear warheads, has the fastest growing nuclear weapons programme in the world and by 2020 it could have enough fissile material to produce more than 200 nuclear devices, experts have said.
India has said it will not hesitate in going beyond its borders to eliminate terrorists, in an apparent warning to Pakistan.
Indian Army this week carried out a surgical strike inside Myanmar, killing scores of Naga insurgents. Musharraf also asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to respond to threats in his capacity.
(With agency inputs)
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