- FO Spokesperson condemns Indian defence minister’s remarks on its nuclear arsenal as his ‘profound insecurity’
- Rajnath’s comments showed his sheer ignorance of mandate and responsibilities of a specialised agency of the United Nations like the IAEA: FO
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, in categorical term, stated on Thursday that its conventional capabilities are sufficient to deter India, without resorting to the self-imposed “nuclear blackmail” that New Delhi suffers from, the Foreign Ministry said.
Islamabad’s response comes after Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal should be brought under the surveillance of the UN’s nuclear agency.
“The irresponsible remarks reveal his profound insecurity and frustration regarding Pakistan’s effective defence and deterrence against Indian aggression through conventional means,” Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said in a statement.
🔊PR NO.1️⃣3️⃣9️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣
Pakistan Condemns the Remarks of Indian Defence Minister
Pakistan strongly condemns the remarks of Indian Defence Minister on its nuclear arsenal, made today in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K).
These irresponsible remarks reveal…
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) May 15, 2025
Ambassador Shafqat said that the comments of India’s defence minister also showed his sheer ignorance of the mandate and responsibilities of a specialised agency of the United Nations like the IAEA.
If anything, he said, the IAEA and the international community should be worried about the repeated theft and illicit trafficking incidents involving nuclear and radioactive material in India.
“These incidents also suggest the existence of a black market for sensitive, dual-use materials inside India,” he said.
Pakistan, Ambassador Shafqat said, urges a thorough investigation of these incidents and calls upon India to ensure the safety and security of its nuclear facilities and arsenal.
The nuclear-armed rivals ended their worst military conflict in nearly three decades with a ceasefire announcement on Saturday. The conflict sparked global concerns that it could spiral into a full-blown war.
The fighting began last Wednesday when India launched strikes against what it described as “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan.
Pakistan immediately responded with heavy artillery fire and a four-day standoff ensued between the South Asian rivals.
Just last year, the spokesperson reminded the world, that five individuals with a radioactive device reportedly stolen from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) 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 in Californium were also reported in 2021.
These recurring incidents call into question the measures taken by New Delhi for the safety and security of nuclear and other radioactive materials, the spokesperson said.
