ISLAMABAD, May 15 (Alliance News): In a strong rebuttal to Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s remarks, Pakistan on Thursday said its conventional military capabilities are sufficient to deter India, without resorting to what it termed New Delhi’s self-imposed “nuclear blackmail.”
Foreign Office spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan, in an official statement, called Singh’s comments “irresponsible,” revealing “profound insecurity and frustration” over Pakistan’s effective conventional deterrence.
He dismissed the suggestion that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal should be placed under international monitoring, calling it baseless and ignorant of the mandate of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.
Ambassador Shafqat highlighted recent incidents of nuclear and radioactive material theft in India, raising concerns over New Delhi’s safety protocols.
He cited the theft of a radioactive device from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and its later recovery in Dehradun.
He also referenced the illegal possession of highly radioactive Californium worth $100 million by criminal gangs, and several similar thefts reported in 2021.
“These recurring incidents indicate a serious lapse in India’s nuclear security and point towards the existence of a black market for sensitive, dual-use materials,” the spokesperson warned.
He urged the international community and the IAEA to thoroughly investigate these incidents and called upon India to take serious measures to ensure the safety and security of its nuclear facilities and materials.
The statement came after a recent escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours ended with a ceasefire announcement on Saturday, following days of military exchanges that raised global fears of a broader conflict.
