United Nations: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday used the forum of the UN General Assembly to openly appeal to the global Muslim sentiment on the issue of Kashmir as he launched a frontal attack on India, and held out the threat of a conventional war spinning out of control between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Addressing the top world body, Imran Khan said: “If a conventional war starts and anything could happen, supposing a country seven times smaller than its neighbour is faced with the choice, either you surrender or you fight for your freedom till death; And I asked myself this question, and my belief is ‘La-ilaha-illallah’, there is no God but one, and we will fight.”

He said when a nuclear-armed country “fights to the end, it will have consequences far beyond the borders, it will have a consequence for the world”.

“I am warning you, it is not a threat, it’s a fair worry… Where are we headed,” he asked, urging the UN to intervene on Kashmir.

After the speech, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal tweeted: “Many Muslim diplomats were in tears when PM referred to the Prophet. PM has made a strong case for Muslim ummah and for Pakistan. The speech will be remembered and referred to in the times to come.”