Pakistan calls for probe into nuclear 'black market' in India

Pakistan urged the international community Thursday to investigate a nuclear "black market" in India, responding to New Delhi's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who called for Islamabad's arsenal to be monitored by the UN. 

"The IAEA and the international community should be worried about the repeated theft and illicit trafficking incidents involving nuclear and radioactive material in India," Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that the incidents "suggest the existence of a black market for sensitive, dual-use materials inside India".

Strongly condemning the remarks of Indian defence minister on its nuclear arsenal, made today in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K), the Foreign Ministry said 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 statement added. 

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, the ministry said and added “If anything, the IAEA and the international community should be worried about the repeated theft and illicit trafficking incidents involving nuclear and radioactive material in India.”

The ministry said “Just last year, five individuals with a radioactive device reportedly stolen from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) were found in Dehradun, India. Later, a gang of individuals was found with illegal possession of a highly radioactive and toxic substance, Californium, worth US$ 100 million. Three incidents of theft of Californium were also reported in 2021. These recurring incidents call into question the measures taken by New Delhi for the safety and security of nuclear and other radioactive material. These incidents also suggest the existence of a black market for sensitive, dual-use materials inside India.”

Pakistan urges a thorough investigation of these incidents and calls upon India to ensure the safety and security of its nuclear facilities and arsenalt, the statement concluded.

Pakistan nuclear arsenal should be under UN surveillance: India

Pakistan's nuclear arsenal should be brought under the surveillance of the UN's nuclear agency, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Thursday, following last week's conflict between Islamabad and New Delhi.

"I want to put this question to the world... is Pakistan's nuclear arsenal safe?" Singh said while addressing troops at a base in Srinagar in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

"Pakistan's nuclear arsenal should be brought under the scrutiny of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)."

Singh's comments came as the nuclear-armed rivals ended their worst military conflict in nearly three decades with a ceasefire announcement on Saturday.

The conflict sparked global concerns that it could spiral into a full-blown war.

The fighting began last Wednesday when India launched strikes against what it described as "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan.

Pakistan immediately responded with heavy artillery fire and a four-day standoff ensued between the South Asian rivals, which left around 70 people dead on both sides.

India denied targeting Pakistan's nuclear installations during the brief conflict.

"We have not hit Kirana Hills," Indian Air Marshal AK Bharti told reporters, referring to a vast rocky mountain range where, according to Indian media reports, Pakistan stores its nuclear arsenal.

Reporter Anwer Abbas/AFP