Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned recent remarks of Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh regarding Islamabad’s nuclear arsenal, describing them as ignorant of the responsibilities of the U.N.’s nuclear agency.
In a public address from India-held Kashmir’s Srinagar, Singh said the United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should take charge of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons after alleging they were not safe in the hands of an “irresponsible” nation.
Describing the remarks as “irresponsible,” the Foreign Office issued a statement asserting that they revealed the Indian official’s “profound insecurity and frustration” over Pakistan’s effective defense and deterrence against Indian aggression through conventional means.
“Pakistan’s conventional capabilities are adequate to deter India, without the self-imposed ‘nuclear blackmail’ that New Delhi suffers,” it said, adding they also showed Singh’s “sheer ignorance” regarding the mandate and responsibilities of a specialized agency of the United Nations like the IAEA.
If anything, read the statement, the IAEA and the international community should be worried about the repeated theft and illicit trafficking incidents involving nuclear and radioactive material in India.
“Just last year, five individuals with a radioactive device reportedly stolen from the Bhabha Atomic Research Center were found in Dehradun, India. Later, a gang of individuals was found with illegal possession of a highly radioactive and toxic substance, Californium, worth $100 million. Three incidents of theft of Californium were also reported in 2021,” it recalled.
The Foreign Office said the recurring incidents of theft and trafficking raised questions about Delhi’s protocols for the safety and security of nuclear and other radioactive material. “These incidents also suggest the existence of a black market for sensitive, dual-use materials inside India,” it added.
The statement has called for a thorough investigation into these incidents and urged India to ensure the safety and security of its nuclear facilities and arsenal.
The IAEA is a Vienna-based U.N. watchdog that monitors nuclear programs to ensure they are peaceful. It has no role in governing nuclear weapons.