ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office has strongly condemned the Indian Defense Minister’s statement on Pakistan’s nuclear assets and called upon the international community, especially the UN nuclear watchdog, to conduct a thorough review of the security of nuclear installations and radioactive materials in India.
Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that the Indian Defense Minister’s irresponsible statement reflects his failed defense strategy and internal insecurity. He made it clear that Pakistan’s conventional defense capability is enough to deter India’s aggression.
Shafqat Ali Khan also asserted that India’s defense minister was unaware of the mandate and responsibilities of global nuclear watchdog agencies such as the IAEA. Pakistan has asked the international community to express serious concern over the theft, illegal smuggling, and black marketing of nuclear material in India.
The Foreign Office referred to several incidents of theft of radioactive material in India in recent years, including the theft of a radioactive device from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in 2024 and the recovery of nuclear material in Dehradun. In addition, India also exported radioactive material ‘californium’ worth $100 million last year.
In light of these incidents, Pakistan demanded that India take strong measures to protect its nuclear installations and weapons and ensure a full and transparent investigation into these incidents so as to safeguard nuclear security in the region from threats.
