The two nuclear rivals, India and Pakistan, have just ended their worst military conflict in nearly three decades. The conflict began after India’s false flag operation in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. India accused the terrorist attack of being backed by Pakistan in Indian occupied Kashmir. In the face of Pakistan’s denial of the allegations, India struck what it called “terrorist camps” in Pakistan in retaliation for an attack it falsely accused Pakistan of. This led to four days of intense drone, missile, and artillery exchanges, leaving nearly 70 people, including dozens of civilians, dead on both sides. India had a worse defeat before the ceasefire was called by the USA. However, after such a clash and defeat, India’s defence minister, Rajnath Singh, opted for a very blatant statement regarding Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
On May 15, Singh said that the “International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should take charge of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons”. This statement comes after India’s disgraceful defeat in the dogfight against Pakistan’s air force. He further added that “I wanted to raise this question for the world: are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of a rogue and irresponsible nation?” Additionally, this statement was made at a time when the situation was very sensitive between the two nuclear rivals. On the other hand, the ceasefire agreement has not yet been processed, with constant delays. Similarly, blatant statements from Indian leaders are making the situation worse, such as the one by Singh.
Pakistan strongly condemned India’s remarks on Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. Additionally, in response to the Indian minister’s comments, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that “These irresponsible remarks reveal his profound insecurity and frustration regarding Pakistan’s effective defense and deterrence against Indian aggression through conventional means. Pakistan’s conventional capabilities are adequate to deter India, without the self-imposed ‘nuclear blackmail’ that New Delhi suffers. It is to be noted that Pakistan has repeatedly expressed concerns over the continued “provocative and inflammatory remarks by Indian leadership, as a threat to the fragile regional peace”.
In reply to Singh’s question, the MoFA spokesperson raised questions on India’s involvement in “repeated theft” and “illicit trafficking incidents” involving nuclear and radioactive material in India. He thinks that the IAEA and the international community should be worried about that instead. In return, he probed the measures taken by New Delhi “for the safety and security of nuclear and other radioactive material.”
In the past, there have been several mishaps on India’s account showing its poor safety standards in nuclear energy. The spokesman cited certain incidents to remind India of their standing regarding the safety of nuclear energy. Citing these incidents, he recalled, just last year, five individuals with a radioactive device reported as allegedly stolen from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) were found in Dehradun, India. Likewise, a gang of individuals was found in illegal possession of a highly radioactive and toxic substance, californium, worth $100 million. Three incidents of theft of californium were also reported in 2021. In addition to the ones not cited, there is an endless list of incidents dating since 1994 when the first recorded incident of nuclear smuggling in India took place.
To list a few incidents, in June 1998, Police arrested a politician in the Indian state of West Bengal, who they said was carrying more than 100 kg of uranium. On 5 May 2021, more than seven kgs of Uranium were seized in the Indian state of Maharashtra, possessed by unauthorized people. Similarly, on 3 June 2021, Indian security agencies arrested seven unauthorized people and seized 6.4 kg of uranium from their possession. As per Indian Government officials, in 2013, guerrilla fighters in northeast India illegally obtained uranium ore from a government-run milling complex in northeast India and strapped it to high explosives to make a crude bomb before being caught by police. The list is very long.
India claims to be a responsible nuclear weapon state, but repetitive incidents of theft validate that nuclear material in India is unsafe. For India, it is important to secure nuclear material at home instead of commenting blatantly regarding Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
Such incidents in India show that nuclear arsenals in India are unsafe and not under proper watch. Shafaqat Ali Khan also expressed concerns regarding the black market in India. He stated that “These incidents also suggest the existence of a black market for sensitive, dual-use materials inside India”. He added that “Pakistan urges a thorough investigation of these incidents” and “calls upon India to ensure the safety and security of its nuclear facilities and arsenal.”
The cumulative incidents of nuclear trafficking in India have set alarms across the world. Such disturbing developments in India regarding their nuclear arsenals make India in no position to question Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities and call it a rogue state. One should focus on one’s safety first rather than start a blame game. India has always been involved in the blame game and false flag operations concerning Pakistan. That is all India always does.
The MoFA also criticized Singh’s remarks as “ignorant of the mandate and responsibilities” of the IAEA, tasked with verifying that nuclear programmes remain peaceful. India’s civilian nuclear facilities are subject to the IAEA safeguards under a 2008 agreement, but its strategic programme is not. A leading US non-proliferation watchdog, the Nuclear Threat Initiative, has a nuclear security index that gave India a low ranking for its poor safety and security of nuclear material. This position has not changed since 2020. It has categorized Pakistan as the “most improved country” in the ranking for countries with weapons-usable nuclear materials.
India claims to be a responsible nuclear weapon state, but repetitive incidents of theft validate that nuclear material in India is unsafe. For India, it is important to secure nuclear material at home instead of commenting blatantly regarding Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
