Pakistan capable of 'deterring India without nuclear blackmail'

• Indian minister's remarks reveal his "profound insecurity".
• FO recalls several nuclear theft cases took place in India.
• Pakistan seeks thorough probes into Indian nuclear thefts.

In a loud and clear message to its eastern neighbour, Pakistan said on Thursday that its conventional capabilities are sufficient to deter India, without resorting to the self-imposed "nuclear blackmail" that New Delhi suffers from.

The nuclear-armed nation's response came after Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Pakistan's nuclear arsenal should be brought under the surveillance of the UN's nuclear agency.

"These irresponsible remarks reveal his profound insecurity and frustration regarding Pakistan's effective defence and deterrence against Indian aggression through conventional means," Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said in a statement.

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.

In the statement, Ambassador Shafqat said that the comments of India’s defence minister also showed his sheer ignorance of the mandate and responsibilities of a specialised agency of the United Nations like the IAEA. 

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

Just last year, the spokesperson reminded the world, that 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 $100 million. Three incidents of theft in 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 materials, the spokesperson said.

"These incidents also suggest the existence of a black market for sensitive, dual-use materials inside India," he said.

Pakistan, Ambassador Shafqat said, urges a thorough investigation of these incidents and calls upon India to ensure the safety and security of its nuclear facilities and arsenal.