Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s “nuclear statement” pricks Pakistan

STC NEWS MONITORING DESK
MAY 16 (STC): Pakistan has reacted to India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh’s remarks suggesting International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) oversight of Islamabad’s nuclear arsenal, calling the statement a reflection of “sheer ignorance of the mandate and responsibilities” of the global nuclear watchdog, reports Hindustan Times.
According to the reports, the Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs has “strongly condemned” Rajnath Singh’s remarks. “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 HT report quoting the ministry’s statement said.
The report further states that Pakistan also alleged, “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.”
Notably, the defence minister was on his first visit to Jammu post Operation Sindoor to review the overall security situation and combat readiness of frontline troops. He congratulated the troops for the success of “Operation Sindoor”. (STC)