'Are nuclear weapons safe with Pakistan?' asks Rajnath Singh; seeks IAEA monitoring
Pakistan's nuclear arsenal should be brought under the surveillance of the UN's nuclear agency, Rajnath Singh said on Thursday, following last week's conflict between Islamabad and New Delhi.
"I wanted to raise this question for the world: are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of a rogue and irresponsible nation?" Rajnath Singh told troops at a base in Srinagar in Kashmir.
"I believe that Pakistan's atomic weapons should be brought under he surveillance of IAEA. I want to say this very clearly," he said, referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
"The entire world has seen how Pakistan has irresponsibly threatened India with nuclear attacks multiple times."
Pakistan has consistently maintained throughout the conflict with India that the use of nuclear weapons was not under consideration. In contrast, India has firmly asserted that it will not be intimidated by what it terms 'nuclear blackmail' from its neighbour.
New Delhi has categorically denied targeting Pakistan's nuclear installations during the recent conflict. Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, told reporters, 'We have not hit Kirana Hills,' referring to the rocky mountain range in Pakistan believed by some reports to house the country's nuclear arsenal. He added with a hint of sarcasm, 'Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installation-we did not know about it,' emphasising that the site was not among the targets struck by Indian forces.
India and Pakistan possess nearly comparable nuclear arsenals, with India estimated to have around 180 warheads and Pakistan approximately 170 as of 2025.
India maintains a declared 'No First Use' (NFU) policy, committing to use nuclear weapons only in retaliation, emphasising credible minimum deterrence and restraint. Its nuclear triad includes land-based ballistic missiles (like the Agni series), air-delivered weapons, and sea-based platforms such as nuclear-powered submarines.
Conversely, Pakistan has not adopted an NFU stance and follows a 'Full Spectrum Deterrence' doctrine, which allows for the potential first use of nuclear weapons, including tactical nuclear arms, to counter India's conventional military superiority.
Pakistan's arsenal primarily consists of land-based ballistic and cruise missiles, with sea-based nuclear capabilities still under development.
While India's nuclear command is under civilian control through the Nuclear Command Authority, Pakistan's strategic control is exercised by its National Command Authority.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an autonomous intergovernmental organisation established in 1957 to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and prevent its military application, including nuclear weapons.
Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, it operates within the United Nations system, reporting to both the General Assembly and the Security Council.
The IAEA facilitates scientific and technical cooperation among its 180 member states, implements safeguards to monitor nuclear programmes, and promotes nuclear safety and security worldwide.
IAEA was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 for its efforts to ensure nuclear energy is used safely and peacefully.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
14 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Can India preserve its multipolarity?
Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on India were bad enough for bilateral ties, but the US president has made it worse with an additional 25% on account of India's oil purchases from Russia, which Trump now sees as the aggressor in the Ukraine war. Both the Indian government and public opinion have not seen relations with the US and Russia as an either-or choice. Here are three charts that explain this argument. Bloomberg photo
India.com
44 minutes ago
- India.com
Where Only India's Prime Minister Can Hoist The National Flag: The Secrets Of Red Fort's Lahori Gate Revealed
New Delhi: Historic Red Fort hosts flag hoisting ceremony every year on August 15 to mark India's Independence Day anniversary. Prime minister unfurls the tricolor from its Lahori Gate. This tradition is unique because only the Prime Minister of India can hoist the national flag from this iconic gate. The Lahori Gate holds stories that span from the era of slavery to India's freedom struggle. Here are five lesser-known tales connected to this landmark. The name Lahori Gate dates back to the Mughal era. This gate marked the starting point of the road that led directly to Lahore, now part of Pakistan. During Mughal times, royal processions used this route, making the gate a symbol of Delhi's grandeur and power. This historical connection explains why the gate carries the name of Lahore. History tells us that the British ruled India for nearly 200 years. After brutally suppressing the 1857 revolt, the British hoisted their Union Jack at the Lahori Gate, holding the country in colonial chains. This place became a symbol of oppression. Today, it stands as the site where the Indian flag waves proudly, representing freedom and dignity. Netaji's Dream Fulfilled in 1947 On October 21, 1943, following the formation of the Azad Hind government led by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, there was a dream to hoist the INA flag at the Red Fort. Though that dream remained unfulfilled then, the freedom struggle marched on. India finally gained independence in 1947, and Netaji's vision was realised when the Indian flag was raised at the Lahori Gate. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became India's first prime minister. On August 15, 1947, he hoisted the tricolor for the first time at the Lahori Gate and addressed the nation. This tradition continues to this day, marking the beginning of Independence Day celebrations every year. Since independence, the honour of hoisting the flag at Lahori Gate has been reserved exclusively for the prime minister and only once a year, on August 15. The ceremony is accompanied by a 21-gun salute, filling the entire nation with pride. These salutes are fired from the nearby cannons using blank rounds that produce sound and smoke but no actual projectiles. These untold stories of the Lahori Gate remind us of India's journey from slavery to freedom, symbolised by the flag fluttering high each Independence Day.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
China is trying to stifle India's economic rise
Following a military standoff on its western front, India now faces a more subtle form of economic sabotage. The high-profile withdrawal of Chinese engineers from Foxconn's India operations isn't an isolated incident. China curbed access to rare earths that are vital for electronics and auto manufacturing. Further, it has blocked or delayed the import of capital equipment, inputs (parts and components), skilled labour and training to impart skills for electronics (a product with a wide-ranging impact on manufacturing and services). These moves show a deliberate strategy to undermine India's economic rise by increasing uncertainty in global supply chain operations and raising capex and operational costs in key industries. These developments will make it hard for companies operating in India to be an efficient part of the global supply chain. China's strategic message to global firms is that India cannot be a reliable global supply chain partner or a +1 when considering China+1. The intent is clear: Undermine India's economic security and curb its strategic and military strength. There is a view that the situation is not serious for several reasons: Investment in electronics is continuing, and Indian parts and components companies are seeking partnerships with other countries. Also, in the medium to long term, China will suffer because global investors will be insecure with its tactics, and they will feel that China is an unreliable place to invest. However, India, like the rest of the world, relies on China in a major way for its electronics inputs. Further, the price of Chinese equipment and components is much lower compared to other countries. China has focused on electronics manufacturing and exports for nearly three decades. The skills and equipment required by India are not available elsewhere. The Chinese ecosystem is not easy to replicate. According to the India Cellular and Electronics Association, India's total imports and trade deficit for electronics were $98.6 billion and $60 billion respectively, in 2024-25. Of these imports, 42 per cent were from China, and over two-thirds of the Indian trade deficit in electronics was with China. While policymakers and the industry are working feverishly to reduce this dependence, especially in areas such as electronics, the decoupling will require focused collaborative attention for another five to seven years. Regarding the point that China's coercive tactics will eventually push global value chains (GVC) out of China, business realities and shareholder compulsions suggest otherwise. Faced with the choice between costly, uncertain production in India or reliable output from China — even with tariffs — most CEOs would tend to choose stability, because that is a key requirement for efficient GVC operations. China or a China-aligned hub will likely remain their fallback, albeit reluctantly. Also, China would have the option of using its industrial policy support systems to retain global companies in China. Reaching a conclusion that, over time, with effort, GVCs such as Apple will gain supply chain resilience requires discussions with the operator and an awareness of all the different issues that need to be addressed to enable such a task. Higher disabilities (costs) in India are a reality, and many of them require special attention through policy improvement. The transition to a new situation, even in the medium term, will not be feasible for the companies if they act alone. It will need a very active role of the government, just as in the case of China. Since solutions to these concerns would cover different parts of supply chains, no single part of the Government can effectively address all areas. This calls for high-level intervention, ideally through a PMO-led mechanism, to drive a coordinated and comprehensive inter-ministerial response in a timely manner. This is not just theory. In 2019, the government established a high-level Committee that launched Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes to address cost disabilities, with respect to, inter alia, China. The first PLI scheme (for smartphones) is among those that have performed exceptionally well. The current situation requires a similar approach, with much higher-level coordination within the Government, working with a quicker time frame in close consultation with companies and other stakeholders. Singh is former Deputy Director General, WTO and Jha is former Head, UNCTAD India Office
