Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Hamid Gul says Islamabad should not hesitate to use nuclear weapons against New Delhi. "It is the matter of country's defense and existence, therefore, Pakistan should never be hesitant to use its atomic capabilities if need arises," a Press TV correspondent quoted Gul as saying on Sunday.
The ex-ISI chief who was speaking at the "Defense of Pakistan" conference held in Islamabad added that Pakistan's inferior military might would trigger the need for the use of nuclear weapons.
Gul further hinted that India had deployed 26 intelligence officers in restive Swat Valley and Kurram Agency in northwestern Pakistan, disguised as Taliban militants.
"It will not be easy for US and India to launch an attack on Pakistan as they are bound to face various challenges," he said, arguing that Islamabad has several other options as well.
Regarding the deployment of 20,000 US troops in Afghanistan along Pakistan's border areas, Gull said that Pakistan should ask the US to set a timeframe for the troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Tension mounted between the two nuclear-armed neighbors after a series of ten coordinated terror attacks rocked India's largest city of Mumbai in late November.
India holds Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba responsible for the attacks that left 170 people - including 22 foreigners - killed and 300 more injured.