New Delhi/Srinagar, May 14, 2025 –Pakistan IAEA nuclear statement has sparked a fresh diplomatic standoff between India and Pakistan. Reacting strongly to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent remarks urging the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to take control of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, Islamabad called the statement “ignorant” and accused India of fear-mongering and insecurity.
🇮🇳 What Did Rajnath Singh Say?
During his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after Operation Sindoor, Rajnath Singh addressed Indian troops at the Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar. He criticized Pakistan’s past threats and raised serious concerns about Islamabad’s nuclear capabilities.
“The whole world has seen how irresponsibly Pakistan has threatened India. Today, from the land of Srinagar, I want to ask — are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such a rogue nation? I believe Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should be brought under the supervision of the IAEA,” Singh said.
His comments were aimed at globalizing the debate around Pakistan’s nuclear security, especially following heightened tensions after India’s targeted strikes on terror hubs during Operation Sindoor.
🇵🇰 Pakistan’s Response: Sharp Rebuttal and Counteraccusations
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong condemnation of Rajnath Singh’s remarks. In its official statement, Pakistan called the comments a sign of “profound insecurity and frustration” within the Indian leadership.
“These irresponsible remarks reveal his deep insecurity regarding Pakistan’s effective defence and deterrence against Indian aggression. Pakistan’s conventional capabilities are sufficient. We do not rely on nuclear blackmail,” the statement read.
Pakistan also accused India of being the real nuclear risk, citing multiple incidents of nuclear material theft and trafficking reported from within India in recent years.
“If anything, the IAEA and the global community should be worried about India’s repeated cases of illicit trafficking of radioactive materials,” the statement added.
Backdrop: Tensions After Operation Sindoor
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors remain high following India’s Operation Sindoor, a military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which India blamed on Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
India had launched precision airstrikes on terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, killing several militants and family members of JeM leader Masood Azhar, escalating cross-border tensions further.
Rajnath Singh’s call for IAEA involvement marks a bold shift in India’s stance, pushing the nuclear safety debate into the international arena. Pakistan’s strong rebuttal and counteraccusations indicate the issue is far from over. With both sides standing firm, diplomatic challenges are expected to grow in the coming days.
