Pakistan has strongly criticized the recent remarks made by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about Pakistan nuclear arsenals. In a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Thursday, FO spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan described Minister Rajnath Singh comments as irresponsible and reflective of deep insecurity and frustration of India over Pakistan strong defence capabilities. He said that Pakistan does not rely on nuclear threats like India does and that its conventional military strength is enough to deter any aggression.
Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan further pointed out that Rajnath Singh remarks showed a lack of understanding of the role and authority of international organizations like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which monitors nuclear safety and standards worldwide. He added that instead of making baseless allegations against Pakistan, India should first answer for its own repeated incidents of nuclear safety breaches and mishandling of radioactive materials.
The FO highlighted several worrying cases from India including the theft of a radioactive device from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) which was later found in the city of Dehradun. In another incident, a criminal group was caught with illegal possession of Californium which is a dangerous and highly radioactive substance valued at around 100 million US dollars. In 2021 alone, three separate cases involving the theft of Californium were reported from India.
Pakistan expressed concern that these repeated incidents raise serious questions about the safety and security of Indian nuclear program. The FO Shafqat Ali Khan also suggested the possibility of an internal black market for radioactive materials in India. Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan called on the international community and agencies like the IAEA to investigate these incidents thoroughly and make sure that India takes proper steps to secure its nuclear facilities and materials.
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