Pakistan strongly condemned the statement made by the Indian Defense Minister regarding Pakistan’s nuclear weapons in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and demanded an investigation into the theft of nuclear material in India and a review of the security of nuclear facilities.
Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said in a statement that these irresponsible statements show Pakistan’s serious insecurity and frustration over its effective defense and resistance to Indian aggression through conventional means. Pakistan’s conventional military capabilities are sufficient to deter India, and we do not need any self-imposed ‘nuclear blackmail’ like New Delhi.
The spokesperson added that the Indian Defense Minister’s comments indicate that he is completely unaware of the mandate and responsibilities of a specific UN agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Shafqat Ali Khan also raised questions over the repeated theft and illegal smuggling of nuclear and radioactive materials in India, saying that the IAEA and the international community should be more concerned about these issues.
He pointed out that last year, five people were arrested in Dehradun for possessing radioactive devices stolen from India’s Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), in addition to a group caught with illegally stored radioactive and toxic material californium worth $100 million. Three incidents of californium theft were reported in 2021 as well.
He questioned what steps New Delhi has taken to protect radioactive materials and nuclear facilities. And also said that these incidents indicate that there is a black market in sensitive, dual-use materials in India.
He stressed that Pakistan demands a thorough investigation into these incidents and urges India to ensure the security of its nuclear assets and facilities.
Earlier, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh had said in a statement today that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should be under the UN nuclear watchdog. He questioned whether nuclear weapons are safe in the hands of an irresponsible and rebellious country? And said that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should be brought under the supervision of the IAEA.
