Srinagar, May 15 – Raising concerns over the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated on Thursday that the country’s nuclear weapons should be brought under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). His comments come just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that India would no longer tolerate what he described as Pakistan’s “nuclear blackmail” and would respond firmly to cross-border terrorism.
Speaking to soldiers during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir following India's recent 'Operation Sindoor,' Singh emphasized that the operation had delivered a strong and clear message to terrorist groups and their handlers in Pakistan that they could no longer consider themselves safe anywhere.
As per agency report, Singh pointed out that India has faced the threat of cross-border terrorism for nearly four decades. He declared that India's commitment to fighting terrorism is so resolute that the country has repeatedly ignored Pakistan's reckless nuclear threats. He questioned the global community, asking whether it is responsible to allow a "rogue and reckless" nation like Pakistan to possess nuclear weapons.
Referring to the IAEA, Singh said that such weapons should be placed under the monitoring of the international agency to ensure their safety and prevent misuse. He described Operation Sindoor as the largest counter-terrorism offensive in India's history and stated that the assault, in retaliation to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, was a necessary strike on the heart of Pakistan's terror infrastructure.
Singh recalled former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s peace initiatives with Pakistan more than two decades ago, which were followed by promises from Islamabad to end terrorism emanating from its soil. However, he lamented that Pakistan had betrayed that trust and continued to do so. Singh warned that such duplicity would now come at an increasingly high cost.
He reiterated the Modi government’s stance that any future terrorist attack would be treated as an act of war, and emphasized that India would not hesitate to act decisively. He said Pakistan-based terrorists and their handlers were now firmly in the crosshairs of Indian forces.
Referring to the international perception of India and Pakistan, Singh drew a stark contrast. While India has emerged as a contributor to global financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund, Pakistan has become a nation heavily dependent on international aid. He commented that “wherever Pakistan stands, the line of borrowers begins.”
Appreciating the resolve of Indian soldiers, Singh said he understood the anger they felt after the Pahalgam attack. He expressed pride in how the forces channeled their anger into a precise and disciplined response.
India launched 'Operation Sindoor' on the night of May 6–7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). In response, Pakistan attempted strikes on Indian military installations on May 8, 9, and 10. India retaliated by targeting eight Pakistani airbases using missiles and long-range weapons.
Following three days of escalation, both countries agreed to cease military operations after a meeting between their Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) on the afternoon of May 10.
