In a loud and clear message to its eastern neighbor, Pakistan stated on Thursday that its conventional military capabilities are sufficient to deter India, without needing to resort to the self-imposed “nuclear blackmail” that New Delhi suffers from.
The nuclear-armed nation’s response followed remarks by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who suggested that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal should be placed under the surveillance of the UN’s nuclear agency.
“These irresponsible remarks reveal his profound insecurity and frustration regarding Pakistan’s effective defense and deterrence against Indian aggression through conventional means,” stated Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan.
The nuclear-armed rivals concluded their most significant military conflict in nearly three decades with a ceasefire announcement on Saturday. The conflict had raised global concerns about a potential escalation into a full-scale war.
The fighting commenced last Wednesday when India launched strikes against what it described as “terrorist infrastructure” within Pakistan.
Pakistan responded immediately with heavy artillery fire, leading to a four-day standoff between the South Asian adversaries.
In the statement, Ambassador Shafqat emphasized that the Indian defense minister’s comments also demonstrated his sheer ignorance regarding the mandate and responsibilities of a specialized United Nations agency like the IAEA.
He further stated that the IAEA and the international community should, in fact, be concerned about the repeated incidents of theft and illicit trafficking involving nuclear and radioactive material in India.
The spokesperson reminded the world that just last year, five individuals were discovered in Dehradun, India, with a radioactive device reportedly stolen from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
Subsequently, a gang was found to be in illegal possession of Californium, a highly radioactive and toxic substance valued at $100 million. Three incidents of Californium theft were also reported in 2021.
These recurring incidents raise serious questions about the measures taken by New Delhi to ensure the safety and security of nuclear and other radioactive materials, the spokesperson asserted.
“These incidents also suggest the existence of a black market for sensitive, dual-use materials within India,” he added.
Pakistan, Ambassador Shafqat conveyed, urges a thorough investigation into these incidents and calls upon India to guarantee the safety and security of its nuclear facilities and arsenal.
