Pakistan PM warns of Kashmir escalation, offers talks with India
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has extended an offer to Indian Prime Minister Nerendra Modi for talks to de-escalate rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Khan says that war benefits neither nation and that he hopes "better sense can prevail." In a televised address to the nation, Khan says Pakistan is "ready to cooperate" and added: "Let's sit together to talk to find a solution."
- World
- AFP
- Published Date: 02:14 | 27 February 2019
- Modified Date: 02:14 | 27 February 2019
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan called for talks with India Wednesday and warned of a catastrophe should the conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals continue to escalate.
"Can we afford any miscalculation with the kind of weapons that we have and you have?" he said in a televised statement after both sides said they had shot down each other's warplanes.
"I once again invite India to come to the negotiating table," said Khan, who has called for dialogue with New Delhi in the past.
"Better sense should prevail," he added, before alluding to the nuclear arsenal of both South Asian countries.
"If escalation begins from here, where will it go?"
Khan also repeated the military's earlier statement that it had shot down two Indian Air Force planes, which sent tensions spiralling on Wednesday, fuelling fears of a fresh conflict between India and Pakistan.
"Today we shot down two Indian MiGs which crossed our border," he said, adding: "Pilots are with us".
India has said that just one of its planes was shot down, but that it also shot down a Pakistani fighter jet in air battles over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir.
The Pakistani military has denied that any of its planes were downed.