The Government of Pakistan has issued a strong condemnation of recent remarks made by India’s Defence Minister concerning Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal during a visit to Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K).
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (No. 139/2025), Pakistan described the comments as “irresponsible,” reflecting what it called the Indian minister’s “profound insecurity and frustration” in the face of Pakistan’s conventional deterrence capabilities. The statement emphasized that Pakistan’s defence posture does not rely on nuclear threats, unlike what it referred to as India’s “self-imposed nuclear blackmail.”
The statement also criticized the Defence Minister’s alleged mischaracterization of the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accusing him of displaying “sheer ignorance” regarding the agency’s mandate.
Raising serious concerns about nuclear safety in India, Pakistan pointed to multiple incidents of theft and illicit trafficking involving radioactive materials, including a reported case in Dehradun last year involving a stolen device from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, and several other high-profile cases of illegal possession of Californium, a highly radioactive substance.
“These recurring incidents call into question the measures taken by New Delhi for the safety and security of nuclear and other radioactive material,” the statement read, adding that they “suggest the existence of a black market for sensitive, dual-use materials inside India.”
Pakistan called for an international investigation into the reported incidents and urged India to take concrete steps to secure its nuclear infrastructure in line with global safety norms.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (No. 139/2025), Pakistan described the comments as “irresponsible,” reflecting what it called the Indian minister’s “profound insecurity and frustration” in the face of Pakistan’s conventional deterrence capabilities. The statement emphasized that Pakistan’s defence posture does not rely on nuclear threats, unlike what it referred to as India’s “self-imposed nuclear blackmail.”
The statement also criticized the Defence Minister’s alleged mischaracterization of the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accusing him of displaying “sheer ignorance” regarding the agency’s mandate.
Raising serious concerns about nuclear safety in India, Pakistan pointed to multiple incidents of theft and illicit trafficking involving radioactive materials, including a reported case in Dehradun last year involving a stolen device from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, and several other high-profile cases of illegal possession of Californium, a highly radioactive substance.
“These recurring incidents call into question the measures taken by New Delhi for the safety and security of nuclear and other radioactive material,” the statement read, adding that they “suggest the existence of a black market for sensitive, dual-use materials inside India.”
Pakistan called for an international investigation into the reported incidents and urged India to take concrete steps to secure its nuclear infrastructure in line with global safety norms.
