IAEA should inspect India’s nuclear material safety, urged Pakistan

The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan has requested the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to conduct an inquiry into reported instances of theft, illegal trading, and breaches of safety protocols at India’s nuclear installations and weapon stockpiles. Specific reference was made to recent events in Dehradun, India, involving the illegal trading of radioactive equipment and californium. This pronouncement from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry is a direct response to comments made by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during an address to Indian troops in Srinagar, wherein he suggested placing Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal under IAEA supervision. Pakistan’s government has formally rejected India’s Defence Minister’s proposal to oversee its nuclear programme. In doing so, the government has clarified the jurisdiction and responsibility of the IAEA, the United Nations agency responsible for verifying the peaceful implementation of nuclear programmes. This exchange occurs amidst heightened tensions arising from the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, for which New Delhi has implicated groups based in Pakistan. The increase in cross-border activity is amplifying international apprehensions regarding a possible escalation between the two neighboring countries, both of which possess nuclear weapons.