PM Shehbaz Sharif Admits Nuclear Programme is Defensive, Not Offensive, Following Operation ‘Sindoor’
13 July 2025, New Delhi
In a significant shift in tone, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stated that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is meant strictly for defense and peace, not aggression. This comes after India’s precise military strikes under Operation ‘Sindoor’, launched in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. The statement appears to be a clear sign that India’s strong retaliation and global diplomatic pressure have forced Pakistan to retreat from its earlier aggressive posturing.
Operation ‘Sindoor’: India’s Targeted Response
Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India launched Operation ‘Sindoor’, a high-precision military offensive targeting nine terrorist camps belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed and other groups across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). One of the major targets included Bahawalpur, considered the nerve center of Jaish operations.
The strikes were executed with pin-point accuracy, delivering a strong message against cross-border terrorism.
In retaliation, Pakistan attempted counterstrikes using drones and missiles, but India’s advanced air defense systems intercepted and neutralized all incoming threats, preventing any significant damage.
PM Shehbaz Sharif’s Changed Stance on Nuclear Weapons
As tensions escalated, several Pakistani leaders issued veiled nuclear threats. However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent remarks during a student event in Islamabad marked a dramatic departure from the aggressive rhetoric.
“Pakistan’s nuclear programme is solely for peace and national security, not for offensive action,” Sharif said.
This admission, coming amid mounting international scrutiny, reflects a strategic de-escalation on Islamabad’s part and a possible acknowledgment of the consequences of provocation.
India Rejects Nuclear Blackmail Tactics
India, however, remained unmoved by the nuclear sabre-rattling. Officials maintained that the era of nuclear blackmail is over.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Defence Minister had suggested that the use of nuclear weapons would only be considered in extreme situations. Former ISI chief Javed Ashraf Qazi even cited World War II, warning of the catastrophic consequences of nuclear warfare, pointing out that both nations possess over 170 nuclear warheads.
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Despite this narrative, New Delhi held its ground, reinforcing that threats will not deter India’s right to defend its sovereignty.
PM Modi’s Stern Warning
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had issued a clear and bold message in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. He stated that India will treat every terror strike as an act of war and respond with decisive force.
“The era of proxy war is over. Every attack on India will receive a direct and fitting response,” PM Modi asserted.
Pakistan’s recalibrated tone, especially on the sensitive subject of nuclear weapons, signals the effectiveness of India’s proactive and assertive military policy. With Operation ‘Sindoor’ setting a new precedent for cross-border counter-terrorism measures, India has made it clear that deterrence through strength and clarity will be the new doctrine in dealing with state-sponsored terror.
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