'Nuke not for Diwali': Pakistan flays Modi's 'highly irresponsible' statement

Foreign Office on Monday termed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's provocative statement that India's nuclear arsenal is not for Diwali as 'highly unfortunate and irresponsible' as well as against the norms of a responsible nuclear behaviour.
"Pakistan considers these remarks as highly unfortunate and irresponsible. Such rhetoric for short-term political and electoral gains, with complete disregard to its effects on strategic stability in South Asia, is regrettable and against norms of responsible nuclear behaviour," Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said while sharing Pakistan's response with media on Modi's provocative statement in an election rally in Rajasthan's Barmer.
"India has stopped the policy of getting scared by Pakistan's threats. Every day, [Pakistan] would make claims about having nuclear weapons. Even the media would bring out reports about Pakistan having nuclear weapons. So what do we have? Are we saving them [nuclear arsenal] for Diwali?" Prime Minister Modi was quoted by Indian media to have told the election rally.
Dr Faisal also referred to the remarks of the Indian Prime Minister, sensationally referring to the night of 27 February 2019 and the missile related threat from India as 'Qatal ki Raat' (the night of murder). "It clearly contradicts the position of Indian officials, who had tried to give an impression that there were no such plans of India and instead had blamed Pakistan for whipping up war hysteria," he added.
He further stated: "Such nuclear brinksmanship needs to be discouraged. It is in the interest of the region that both countries resume dialogue and discuss confidence building and restraint measures for the long-term strategic stability in South Asia."
Modi's remarks came in the wake of tension between the two countries after the February 14 Pulwama attack in which more than 40 Indian paramilitary were killed which further escalated following Indian Air Force (IAF) jets aggression on February 26 and Pakistan's retaliation on February 27 in which two IAF jets were shot down and one Indian pilot Commander Abhinandan was captured. However, as a gesture of peace, Prime Minister Imran Khan decided to return Abhinandan on March 1, 2019.