Pakistan has issued a strong rebuke to Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent remarks calling for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to take control of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.
The Foreign Office on Thursday condemned the statement as "irresponsible" and "reflective of India's defence failures and growing frustration."
In a statement to the media, the Foreign Office spokesperson said, “The Indian defence minister’s remarks display a shocking ignorance of international protocols and the IAEA’s actual mandate. This is nothing short of self-imposed nuclear blackmail on India’s part.”
The spokesperson emphasized that Pakistan’s defence capabilities are robust enough to deter any aggression from India on the conventional battlefield, and the country will not be intimidated by provocative statements or threats.
The FO further clarified that the IAEA's jurisdiction does not extend to managing or controlling the nuclear arsenals of sovereign states, and accused India of deliberately misrepresenting the agency’s role to divert attention from its own security lapses.
Highlighting serious concerns, the spokesperson reminded the international community of multiple alarming incidents of nuclear material theft and smuggling in India, which pose a serious threat to global nuclear security.
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Furthermore, the Foreign Office reported that highly radioactive substance Californium, worth over $100 million, was also seized from another group in India. At least three such incidents of Californium theft were reported in India during 2021.
The statement called on the international community and watchdogs to take note of these breaches, stressing that India’s internal nuclear security poses a real and present danger far greater than its accusations against Pakistan.
The statement comes in response to Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday suggesting the International Atomic Energy Agency should take charge of Pakistan's nuclear weapons.
"Are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such an irresponsible and rogue nation?" Singh said while addressing soldiers in held-Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar. "I believe that Pakistan's nuclear weapons should be taken under the supervision of IAEA."
