Farooq Abdullah responds to Pakistan's nuclear threat: 'We also have nuclear power, will not use it unless...'

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah has come down heavily on Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack. (PTI/File)

National Conference chief and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday responded to Pakistan's warning of a nuclear war and reminded Islamabad that New Delhi has nuclear weapons too.

“We also have nuclear power, and we had it even before them. India has never attacked anyone first. It all started from there (Pakistan), and we responded. Even today, we will not use it (nuclear weapons) unless they do. But if they use it, we have it too. May God never let such a situation arise," he said.

Abdullah, who had been long seen as an advocate of dialogue and friendly relations with Pakistan, said that it cannot continue to sponsor and export terror into India while seeking friendly relations.

#WATCH | Jammu, J&K: On PM Modi's meeting with Defence Minister, NSA, CDS and three service chiefs, JKNC chief Farooq Abdullah says, "We have extended our complete support to the Prime Minister...PM should do whatever has to be done."On Pakistan's reported nuclear power threat, pic.twitter.com/jQdp5MSRcP
ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2025

"There was the Mumbai attack, and it was proven they did it. The Pathankot attack, they did it, the Uri attack, they did it. They attacked in Kargil, and I was the chief minister at that time. They said they were not involved, but when we took strong action, they ran to the US President asking for help. If they want friendship, then such things cannot continue. It must stop. But if they want hostility, we are ready, and so are they," Abdullah added.

Abdullah's remarks come days after terrorists killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. At least two Pakistan-based terrorists have been identified as suspects who carried out the heinous attack.

On Monday, Abdullah said that he used to favour dialogue with Pakistan every time, but has changed his position.

“I used to favour dialogue with Pakistan every time…How will we answer those who lost their loved ones? Are we doing justice? Not Balakot, today the nation wants such action to be taken so that these kinds of attacks never happen," he said on Monday.

“We regret that our neighbour today also does not understand that it has murdered humanity. If they think that by doing this, we will go with Pakistan, we should clear their misunderstanding. We did not go with them in 1947, so why will we go today? We threw the two-nation theory into the water at that time. Today, we are also not ready to accept the two-nation theory. Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christians, we are all one…We will give a befitting reply to them," he said.