Pakistan has developed short-range nuclear weapons to counter the “Cold Start” military doctrine adopted by the Indian Armed Forces, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Wednesday. Abbasi asserted that Islamabad has a “robust and secure” command-and-control system over its strategic nuclear assets, PTI reported.

He made the statement in New York at an event organised by an American think-tank, the Council on Foreign Relations. The Pakistan prime minister will address the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.

“We do not have any fielded tactical nuclear weapons,” PTI quoted him as saying. “We have developed short-range nuclear weapons as a counter to the ‘Cold Start’ doctrine that India has developed.”

“Cold Start” is the military doctrine developed by the Indian Army to carry out holding attacks to stop Pakistani forces from resorting to nuclear retaliation in case of a conflict.

Abbasi wants UNSC resolution on Kashmir implemented

The Pakistani prime minister demanded that the United Nations Security Council’s resolution on Kashmir, adopted in 1948, be implemented. The resolution calls for a cease-fire in the state, and a truce, among other things. “The implementation of the Security Council resolution will be a great starting point that will help address each other’s concerns and provide peace to the region and between Pakistan and India,” he said. “That’s the core issue between the two countries.”

He also accused the Indian Army of committing atrocities along the Line of Control, the PTI report said. “We expect the world community to take notice of those atrocities. These are very serious crimes against humanity in that region,” he alleged.