Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahudin on Monday warned that a nuclear war could break out between India and Pakistan as a result of the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He said it was Pakistan's duty to take up the cause of the Kashmiri people and the country was "morally, politically and constitutionally bound to provide substantial support" to ongoing freedom struggle" in the state. "If Pakistan provides this support, there is a great chance of a nuclear war between the two powers," he warned, according to ANI.

Emphasising that this "fourth war" was imminent, the Hizbul chief added that Kashmiris did not want to compromise anymore and will "fight till the last drop of their blood", regardless of whether they had the support of Pakistan or world bodies such as the United Nations. "Kashmiris have reached the conclusion that they have no option besides armed jihad," Salahudin said.

He also accused the Narendra Modi government of not granting them the freedom to fight for their cause, saying the "suppressed people" of Kashmir were only left with the option of a "target-oriented armed struggle". Salahudin further warned of strong action if Pakistan's efforts do not pay off and India does not act to curb the atrocities in the state.

Earlier this month, Salahudin had called Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh a "killer of Kashmiris" and supported Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed's call for protests in Pakistan against Singh's visit for a ministerial meeting of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation, PTI reported. He had also urged Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to cut all diplomatic ties with India, expressing outrage over the clashes in Kashmir, which continues to be rocked with violence. Curfew-like restrictions are still in place in the state, a month after the killing of 21-year-old Hizbul commander Burhan Wani triggered protests.