Islamabad, May 15, 2025: Pakistan on Thursday urged the international community to investigate repeated incidents of nuclear material theft and persistent security lapses at India’s nuclear facilities.
In a strongly worded statement, the Foreign Office (FO) condemned recent remarks made by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh regarding Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, calling them “irresponsible” and indicative of India’s insecurity and a failing defense doctrine.
According to Reuters, Singh stated, “The International Atomic Energy Agency should take charge of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons,” while addressing soldiers in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-administered Kashmir. His comments came just days after Pakistan and India, both nuclear-armed nations, deescalated their worst military confrontation in nearly three decades. The latest flare-up followed Indian airstrikes on what it claimed were “terrorist camps” inside Pakistan, in retaliation for a deadly attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 soldiers. Both countries exchanged missile and drone strikes before reaching a truce on Saturday.
Refuting Singh’s allegations, Pakistan’s FO emphasized that such remarks reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) mandate and international nuclear norms. The FO spokesperson added that Pakistan possesses credible conventional capabilities to deter Indian aggression without resorting to nuclear escalation.
More urgently, Pakistan highlighted repeated incidents of nuclear material theft in India, urging the international community, particularly the IAEA, to take notice.
Citing several alarming cases, the spokesperson referenced a 2024 theft of radioactive equipment from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and the arrest of five individuals in possession of nuclear materials. In another high-profile case, Indian authorities recovered Californium—a rare and radioactive substance valued at approximately $100 million.
“These frequent incidents raise serious questions about the adequacy of New Delhi’s nuclear security framework,” the spokesperson warned, expressing concerns over the emergence of a potential black market for radioactive substances in the region.
Pakistan called on India to urgently reinforce the safety and security of its nuclear infrastructure and urged a comprehensive international investigation into the breaches to prevent future risks.
