
How Pakistan rhetoric threatens nuclear non-attack pact with India
Pakistan, in its continuing escalation of rhetoric over Operation Sindoor, has threatened to suspend all bilateral agreements with India, including the critical India-Pakistan Non-Attack Agreement on Nuclear Installations, amidst rising tensions triggered by India's decision to put the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance.This threat has brought the longstanding nuclear accord, a cornerstone of regional nuclear stability, into sharp focus, raising concerns in diplomatic and security circles worldwide.advertisementPakistan's provocative move followed a stark warning from its ambassador to Russia Muhammad Khalid Jamali, who on May 4 stated that Islamabad 'would use nuclear weapons' if India launched military action. The statement has deepened anxiety over South Asia's fragile nuclear stability and pushed the 1988 nuclear non-attack agreement to the centre of geopolitical conversations.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his recent address to the nation, sent a strong message in response to what he called Pakistan's 'nuclear blackmail'. 'India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. We have only kept in abeyance our operations against Pakistan; the future will depend on their behaviour. Operation Sindoor is now India's new policy against terrorism— a new line has been drawn,' Modi declared, signalling a hardened stance.
The India-Pakistan Non-Attack Agreement, signed on December 31, 1988, and in force since January 27, 1991, mandates both nations to refrain from attacking each other's nuclear facilities and to exchange lists of such installations annually on January 1. This confidence-building measure—one of the few to survive decades of conflict—saw its 34th consecutive exchange this year, as confirmed by the ministry of external affairs on January 1.advertisementThe agreement encompasses a wide range of nuclear facilities, including research reactors, uranium enrichment plants, fuel fabrication units and other establishments dealing with radioactive materials. Over the years, it has stood as a rare pillar of restraint and transparency, even during periods of intense hostility between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.However, Pakistan's renewed nuclear posturing and threats to revoke the pact have reignited international concerns. The nuclear flashpoint has prompted questions not just about regional stability but also about Islamabad's nuclear responsibility.Back in 2022, US president Joe Biden had labelled Pakistan as 'the most dangerous country in the world', citing its nuclear arsenal and lack of internal cohesion. The same year, the US commerce department blacklisted Pakistani firms for diverting items to its nuclear programme, adding fuel to international suspicions.Recently, after the pause in military offensive between India and Pakistan, defence minister Rajnath Singh, while addressing troops in Kashmir, openly questioned whether nuclear weapons were 'safe in the hands of an irresponsible and rogue nation' and called upon the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to supervise Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.Amidst media speculation about whether Indian military strikes during Operation Sindoor had hit Pakistan's Kirana Hills—a known nuclear site—the IAEA clarified that there was no radiation leak or nuclear incident in Pakistan. The Indian Air Force (IAF) also denied targeting any nuclear facility, with Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, director general air operations, stating categorically: 'We have not hit Kirana Hills, whatever is there.'advertisementAccording to a 2024 report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India currently holds 172 nuclear warheads, slightly up from 164 in 2023, while Pakistan's count stands at 170, unchanged from last year. However, Pakistan's ally China has surged way ahead, amassing 500 warheads, adding a complex third dimension to South Asia's nuclear dynamics.As the diplomatic fallout deepens, global attention is now fixated on whether Pakistan will formally suspend the nuclear non-attack pact—a move that could unravel one of the last remaining safety valves in a volatile neighbourhood already on the edge.Subscribe to India Today MagazineTune InMust Watch
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
NSG roped in for ops against LWE, says DG
Black Cat commandos from the National Security Guards (NSG) have been roped in to assist other security forces in anti-Naxal operations, the force's director general (DG) Brighu Srinivasan said on Tuesday, adding that the elite squad played a key role during Operation Sindoor when it defused explosives at the Jammu airport. Addressing the inauguration of the 23rd NSG Counter-Terror International Seminar in the Capital, Srinivasan said, 'The NSG Hyderabad regional hub for anti-Naxal operations is currently in Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), and is working in conjunction with the state police. As per the directions of the home minister, NSG is also conducting joint exercise with the District Reserve Guard (DRG) of Chhattisgarh.' This is the first the force is being used in the fight against left wing extremism (LWE), which the Centre has vowed to eliminate by March 31, 2026. 'NSG's skill set is limited. Our operations are precise. If we are called and if there is intelligence, we operate. We are also learning during the anti-Naxal operations. If there is a need, we will also conduct operations (anti-naxal).' Srinivasan added. During Operation Sindoor –– India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, the NSG played a key role when its bomb squad defused an 8kg payload of explosives that was dropped from a drone at the Jammu airport, Srinivasan said. In the aftermath of the operation, the force also conducted anti-hijacking exercises in railway stations at Jammu, which has been on high alert since the April 22 attack. The NSG chief also said that, in January 2025, NSG conducted a security audit and anti-hijacking exercises on inland water cruise liners. 'On the directions of the MHA (ministry of home affairs), NSG conducted the security audit of the inland water cruise liners. The teams conducted anti-hijack exercises in the cruise liners operating in the Ganga and the Brahmaputra,' he said. NSG, India's elite counterterror force, is used only in exceptional circumstances. NSG commandos are selected from the Army, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and state police. NSG personnel have been deployed during the 26/11 Mumbai attack and the 2016 Pathankot attack.


Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: AAP hindering railway overbridge project, says Bittu
Union minister of state for railways and food processing industries Ravneet Singh Bittu has said that he would confront Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann if the state government fails to grant a no-objection certificate (NOC) in 48 hours for the long-delayed railway overbridge (ROB) on the Doraha–Sahnewal stretch in Ludhiana. While addressing a public meeting amid the Ludhiana West by-election campaign in ward number 64, Rishi Nagar, Bittu accused the Punjab government of deliberately holding up the project. He alleged that the CM's office had been sitting on the file for over six months, refusing to issue the necessary NOC from the public works department (PWD). 'This overbridge is critical for easing traffic and ensuring connectivity. The Indian Railways is ready to fund the entire ₹70 crore required for its construction. Still, the Punjab government is refusing to cooperate,' Bittu said. 'Despite several letters and personal communication, the chief minister's office has not even acknowledged the correspondence.' Calling the delay an intentional obstruction, Bittu warned that if the NOC isn't cleared within the next two days, he will confront CM Bhagwant Mann directly in his residence or 'wherever he is'. 'These are not my works — they are the people's works. If he fails to act, I will go to him and ask why he is playing politics with Ludhiana's development,' he declared. Bittu accused the CM of promoting a misleading narrative on development. 'On stage, he talks about progress, but behind the scenes, he blocks critical projects supported by the Centre. These double standards will be exposed,' he said. He urged voters to back BJP candidate Jiwan Gupta in the Ludhiana West by-election, emphasising that only a BJP-led government can fast-track stalled infrastructure and ensure accountability. Bittu also cited the Modi government's decisive national security actions, including Operation Sindoor, as proof of strong leadership and vision. Calling the bypoll a test for Punjab's future, he appealed to party workers and residents to unite for victory, stating, 'This election is not just about one seat. It's about development, dignity, and the dream of a stronger India.'


Deccan Herald
an hour ago
- Deccan Herald
Modi 'proud' of all-party Op Sindoor outreach; no word of NCP-NCP(SP) merger yet
Hello readers! PM Narendra Modi expressed his pride in the multi-party delegations' ability to speak of India's stance abroad following Operation Sindoor. Meanwhile, a lot of buzz fell flat on its face when no word of a NCP-NCP(SP) reunion was spoken of during the foundation day event in Pune. Track DH for the latest in political updates as we bring you the latest developments of the day!