Pakistan rules out nuclear escalation, calls weapons "last resort"

Pakistan considers nuclear weapons a “last resort” and does not expect circumstances to arise that would require their use, Pakistani Ambassador to Moscow Faisal Niaz Tirmizi told TASS.

The diplomat made the remarks while discussing the recently signed defence pact between Pakistan, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia and addressing whether Islamabad could potentially use nuclear weapons if Ankara or Riyadh came under attack.

“Nuclear weapons are a last resort. Pakistan has never demonstrated its nuclear capability. We have it, but we do not want to use it. And we will not use it, because that would be a catastrophe for humanity,” Tirmizi said.

“But ultimately, it is also a means of defence. And, of course, it is purely defensive in nature. Let’s not go that far. I do not think that this will ever happen,” he added.

The Mecca Agreement was signed on August 7 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Under the agreement, an attack on any one of the three countries will be considered an act of aggression against all parties, establishing a framework for collective security cooperation.

By Vafa Guliyeva