New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said India is fully prepared for any eventuality amid reports that Pakistan may be conducting secret nuclear tests. His comments came in response to questions about US President Donald Trump’s recent allegation that Pakistan was “secretly carrying out nuclear weapon tests.”
“Those who want to test, let them. How can we stop them? Whatever happens, we are prepared for any eventuality,” Singh told reporters. Asked whether India would also conduct tests if Pakistan did, he said, “Let’s first see if they do it.”
Singh’s remarks came after Trump’s claim that Pakistan had been conducting undisclosed nuclear tests, a statement that has sparked strong reactions in both Islamabad and New Delhi.
Following the allegation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated India’s long-standing position on nuclear responsibility and pointed to Pakistan’s history of proliferation. “Pakistan’s record on nuclear smuggling, export-control violations, and secret partnerships is well known,” an MEA official was quoted as saying.
Islamabad, meanwhile, dismissed Trump’s allegation as “baseless and irresponsible,” stating that Pakistan continues to observe a unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing. The Pakistani Foreign Office said the country has no plans to resume testing and remains committed to maintaining regional stability.
India, which last conducted nuclear tests in 1998, has maintained a voluntary moratorium on testing since then, while keeping its strategic deterrent posture intact. Singh’s statement underscores that New Delhi is monitoring developments closely but will decide its response based on Pakistan’s actions.
