India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday urged the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to take control of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, raising concerns about their safety following recent military clashes between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Singh questioned the responsibility of Pakistan in handling its arsenal during a speech in Srinagar, the summer capital of India-held Kashmir.
The call comes days after a tense conflict sparked by India’s strikes on what it described as terrorist camps in Pakistan, in response to a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. The violence included missile and drone exchanges before both countries agreed to a ceasefire last Saturday.
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Pakistan has not responded to Singh’s demand. The IAEA, a UN body based in Vienna, oversees nuclear programs to ensure they are used peacefully. India and Pakistan have maintained nuclear capabilities since 1998, and their ongoing rivalry makes South Asia one of the most sensitive nuclear flashpoints worldwide.
While fears of nuclear escalation briefly surfaced during the conflict, Pakistan’s defence minister dismissed reports of a meeting of its nuclear oversight body. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated that India would continue to target terrorist groups despite Pakistan’s threats, which Islamabad condemned as provocative.
