Pak minister Shazia Marri defends her 'atom bomb' statement after making nuke threats at India

Just hours after she threatened nuclear war against India, Pakistan Minister and Pakistan People Party (PPP) leader Shazia Marri has defended her provocative "atom bomb" statement, calling Pakistan a "responsible nuclear state."  

Marri's defended her statement on Twitter and blamed Indian media for "creating panic." 

"Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state. Some elements in Indian media trying to create panic. Pakistan’s FM responded to inciting comments by Indian Minister. Pakistan has sacrificed far more than India in the fight against terrorism.Modi Sarkar is promoting extremism & fascism," she tweeted. 

This came just hours after Marri, while defending foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's comment against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said India should remember that Pakistan is armed with nuclear weapons.

"India should not forget that Pakistan has an atom bomb. Our nuclear status is not meant to remain silent. We will not back down if the need arises," she was quoted by ANI. 

"If you will keep making allegations against Pakistan again and again Pakistan cannot keep listening silently, this will not happen. The status of a nuclear state given to Pakistan has not been given to remain silent. Pakistan also knows how to answer," she added.

She reportedly commented on a local tv channel. Calling EAM S Jaishankar's statement the UN as a "propaganda," Marri said "India is linking Muslims with terrorism."

Marri's statement follows Bhutto's insensitive comment about Narendra Modi, wherein he called Modi the "butcher of Gujarat". 

India had responded to the comments stating it was a "new low even for Pakistan." The statement added that Pakistan lacks the credentials to cast aspersions on India and added that "Make in Pakistan terrorism" has to stop. 

"The Foreign Minister of Pakistan has obviously forgotten this day in 1971, which was a direct result of the genocide unleashed by Pakistani rulers against ethnic Bengalis and Hindus. Unfortunately, Pakistan does not seem to have changed much in the treatment of its minorities. It certainly lacks credentials to cast aspersions at India," the ministry said in a statement.

The external affairs ministry added that Bhutto's frustration would be better directed towards the masterminds of terrorist enterprises in his own country.

Meanwhile, BJP workers on Saturday held protests in various cities in Maharashtra against Bhutto for his "objectionable and shameful" remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The protests were held in Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, and Jalna among other areas.