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HomeDiplomacyRajnath calls for global supervision of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. 'Insecurity,' says Islamabad

Rajnath calls for global supervision of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. ‘Insecurity,’ says Islamabad

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's remarks came during his first visit to Srinagar after Operation Sindoor & other military actions, post-Pahalgam attack.

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New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has questioned Pakistan’s ability to manage its nuclear weapons responsibly, calling for supervision under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

His remarks for reinforcing India’s hardline stance on national security and cross-border terrorism came during his first visit to Srinagar after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.

“We will never yield to nuclear blackmail,” Rajnath Singh said Thursday at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar.

He added, “Pakistan’s reckless nuclear threats have not deterred India’s resolve to eliminate terrorism. I ask the global community, are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such an irresponsible and rogue nation?”

Calling for international scrutiny, Rajnath Singh said the time had come for global powers to demand accountability for Islamabad’s nuclear arsenal. He then praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decisive policy shift to treat any terror attack on Indian soil, from now onwards, as an act of war.

Referring to India’s military response to the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives, Rajnath Singh described Operation Sindoor as “the most decisive action against terrorism in Indian history.” He added, “Terrorists targeted Indians based on their dharma; we targeted them based on their karma. It was our dharma to eliminate them.”

On Thursday only, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the comments as “irresponsible”, claiming they revealed India’s insecurity.

Accusing New Delhi of projecting its anxieties onto Pakistan, Islamabad issued a statement: “Pakistan’s conventional capabilities are adequate to deter India, without the self-imposed ‘nuclear blackmail’ that New Delhi suffers.”

Rajnath Singh’s words, it read, reflected his sheer ignorance of the mandate and responsibilities of the global nuclear watchdog.

Citing alleged incidents of radioactive material theft in India, Pakistan also attempted to flip the narrative in its pointed rebuttal.

On Thursday, the IAEA stated that there have not been any nuclear leaks or releases from any of the nuclear facilities in Pakistan, of late.

During his address in Kashmir, Rajnath Singh had even taken potshots at Pakistan’s economic fragility, highlighting its dependence on loans from the IMF.

“While Pakistan seeks funds from the IMF, India is among the countries that provide funds to the IMF,” he said.

Last week, under Operation Sindoor, India launched precision strikes on nine terror camps across the Line of Control on 7 May. Pakistan responded with attempted air incursions on 8, 9, and 10 May, with India countering with retaliatory missile strikes on eight Pakistani air bases. The escalation was paused on 10 May after a ceasefire understanding during DGMO-level talks.

(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)


Also Read: How Modi set the mood for TV news, op-eds—Pahalgam to Operation Sindoor


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