Islamabad, May 15 – Pakistan strongly criticised Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s remarks suggesting that the country’s nuclear arsenal be placed under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), calling the statement an example of “sheer ignorance” of the UN agency’s mandate.
During his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since the recent Operation Sindoor, Singh said Pakistan's nuclear weapons were not safe in what he described as a “rogue nation,” and proposed IAEA oversight.
His remarks came in the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent warning against what he termed “nuclear blackmail” by Pakistan, vowing strong responses to cross-border terrorism.
Reacting sharply, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan issued a statement condemning Singh’s comments. “These irresponsible remarks reveal his profound insecurity and frustration regarding Pakistan’s effective defence,” Khan said.
He added that India’s assertions about “nuclear blackmail” reflect its own anxieties. “Pakistan’s conventional capabilities are adequate to deter India, without the self-imposed ‘nuclear blackmail’ that New Delhi suffers,” the spokesperson said.
Khan further stated that Singh’s comments showed a lack of understanding of the IAEA’s role. “The comments of India's Defence Minister also show his sheer ignorance of the mandate and responsibilities of a specialised agency of the United Nations like the IAEA,” he said.
The diplomatic exchange marks the latest in a series of escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
