If needed, Pakistan can use nuclear weapons: minister

Pakistan will use nuclear weapons if its survival is at stake, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said.

"(If we need to use them for) our survival, we will," Asif told Saleem Safi on Geo News programme 'Jirga'.

The minister said the use of nuclear weapons was an option as they were not kept merely for show.

"We should pray that such an option never arises, but if we need to use them (nuclear weapons) for our survival, we will," he said.

He also accused India -- also a nuclear power -- of waging a proxy war by "fuelling terrorism directly or indirectly ... in Pakistan".