Global nuclear watchdog should take charge of Pakistan’s nuke weapons, says India minister
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India's defence minister Rajnath Singh said on May 15 that the International Atomic Energy Agency, which monitors nuclear programmes, should supervise Pakistan's nuclear weapons.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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NEW DELHI - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should take charge of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on May 15, days after the two nuclear-armed neighbours ended their worst military conflict in nearly three decades.
Deadly fighting broke out between the old enemies last week after India struck what it said were “terrorist camps” in Pakistan in retaliation for an attack in Indian Kashmir in April that killed 26 men, which it said was backed by Pakistan.
Islamabad had denied the allegations and both countries sent missiles and drones into each other’s airspace in the days that followed, before they reached a truce on May 10.
“Are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such an irresponsible and rogue nation?” Mr Singh said while addressing soldiers in Indian Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar. “I believe that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should be taken under the supervision of IAEA.”
There was no immediate response from Pakistan to Mr Singh’s comment.
The IAEA is a Vienna-based United Nations watchdog which monitors nuclear programmes to ensure they are peaceful.
India and Pakistan became nuclear powers after they conducted tit-for-tat nuclear tests in 1998 and their decades-old animosity has made the region – the world's most populous – one of its most dangerous nuclear flashpoints.
The latest military conflict between the South Asian neighbours spiralled alarmingly on May 10 and there were briefly fears that nuclear arsenals might come into play as Pakistan's military said a top body overseeing its nuclear weapons would meet.
But the Pakistani defence minister said no such meeting was scheduled.
Military analysts said this may have been Pakistan’s way of hinting at its nuclear option as Islamabad has a “first-use” policy if its existence is under threat in a conflict.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on May 12 that India would strike at terrorist hideouts across the border again if there were new attacks on India and would not be deterred by what he called Islamabad’s “nuclear blackmail”.
Pakistan rejected Mr Modi’s statements as being “provocative and inflammatory assertions”, saying they represent a dangerous escalation.
Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan have fought three wars in the past, two of them over the Himalayan region of Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part.
India also blames Pakistan for supporting militants battling security forces in its part of Kashmir, but Islamabad denies the accusation. REUTERS
