Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan Image Credit: AP

Islamabad: In a nationwide broadcast, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan will have no option but to retaliate if India mounted a military strike in the wake of the February 14 suicide bombing in Pulwama that killed 40 CRPF troopers.

He said: "Pakistan would not think, but immediately retaliate."

In a televised address to the nation, Imran reacted to India’s sabre-rattling, calling for a surgical strike against Pakistan, and expressed the hope that "better sense will prevail".

He said: "If Indians believe that they can launch an attack on Pakistan, they should understand that Pakistan would not think, but retaliate immediately."

Imran said: “No law in the world allows one to be the “judge, jury and executioner", adding that if India offered any proof, Pakistan would cooperate.

"We all know that it is easy to start a war, but very difficult to end [one]. And we do not know where it all will lead to."

Imran said: "We need to address all issues by dialogue."