ISLAMABAD – Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan warned the UN in starkterms Friday of the threat of a “bloodbath” in Kashmir, even invoking thepossibility that its dispute with India over the territory could escalateinto an all-out nuclear war.

The Indian-controlled part of Kashmir has been under lockdown since NewDelhi scrapped its semi-autonomous status in early August, and Khan saidarmed forces there would turn on the population after the curfew was lifted.

“There are 900,000 troops there, they haven’t come to, as Narendra Modisays — for the prosperity of Kashmir… These 900,000 troops, what arethey going to do? When they come out? There will be a bloodbath,” Khan toldthe United Nations General Assembly in New York.

He added that there could be a repeat of the fighting between thenuclear-armed neighbors seen in February if India blamed Pakistan for anyhome-grown militant attacks in response to the repression in theMuslim-majority territory.

“If a conventional war starts between the two countries, anything couldhappen. But supposing a country seven times smaller than its neighbor isfaced with the choice: either you surrender, or you fight for your freedomtill death?” Khan said, AFP has reported.

“What will we do? I ask myself these questions. We will fight… and when anuclear-armed country fights to the end, it will have consequences farbeyond the borders.”

Prime Minister Modi spoke earlier but did not explicitly mention Kashmir,choosing instead to focus on domestic policies such as development andsanitation.

He did however make an oblique reference to Pakistan, telling fellowleaders: “We belong to a country that has given the world, not war, butBuddha’s message of peace.

“And that is the reason why our voice against terrorism, to alert the worldabout this evil rings with seriousness and outrage.” -APP/AFP