Srinagar: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday urged International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and world powers to take control of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, citing its dangerous brinkmanship and open nuclear threats.
“I want to raise this question whether nuclear weapons are safe in the hands of such an irresponsible and rogue nation. I believe that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should be taken under the supervision of IAEA,” he said while addressing Army personnel in Srinagar.
He also briefly detailed the history of Pakistan’s nuclear proliferation record, the AQ Khan-North Korea link and when former US President Joe Biden termed Pakistan as the most dangerous country.
Singh also took a sharp dig at Pakistan’s frequent requests for international financial aid by invoking Amitabh Bachchan’s famous dialogue from the movie ‘Kalia’. “Pakistan jahaan khada hota hai, wahin se maangne waalon ki line shuru hoti hai (The queue of beggars begins wherever Pakistan stands),” he said, drawing a contrast between the two neighbouring countries with India lending to IMF to help other struggling countries.
Besides congratulating the armed forces for the success of Operation Sindoor, the Defence Minister lauded the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their ‘anger’ against Pakistan and terrorism. “Terrorists killed innocent people in Pahalgam by asking their ‘dharma’ (religion they follow). The entire world saw the reply you gave after that…We killed terrorists by looking at their ‘karma’ (deeds). They killed the innocent by looking at their ‘dharma’, this was Pakistan’s ‘karma’. We eliminated them by looking at their ‘karma’, this is our ‘Bharatiya dharma’.”
Reaffirming India’s stance, he said terrorism and talks cannot go together, and the armed forces will continue to act with strength and restraint.
Pakistan’s Reaction
Islamabad said that the statement reflected India’s Defence Minister’s “sheer ignorance of the mandate and responsibilities” of the global nuclear watchdog. “These irresponsible remarks reveal his profound insecurity and frustration regarding Pakistan’s effective defence 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,” the ministry of foreign affairs statement read.
IAEA on nuclear leak in Pakistan
Amid reports that Kirana Hills area, which reportedly houses a nuclear facility, was struck by India during Operation Sindoor, IAEA confirmed that there has been no radiation leak from any nuclear facility in Pakistan. “We are aware of the reports you are referring to. Based on information available to the IAEA, there has been no radiation leak or release from any nuclear facility in Pakistan,” the India Express reported, quoting the spokesperson of the global nuclear watchdog.
