Srinagar: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should be taken under the supervision of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), questioning if the stockpile was safe in the hands of a “rogue and irresponsible nation”.
The Defence Minister was addressing soldiers at Army’s Srinagar-based 15 Corps headquarters at Badami Bagh.
He said the country will not be intimidated by “nuclear blackmail” from its neighbour.
“India’s unwavering resolve against terrorism can be gauged from the fact that it has not been deterred by Pakistan’s nuclear blackmail, pointing out that the world has witnessed how irresponsibly Islamabad has held out nuclear threats against New Delhi,” he said.
“I raise this question before the world: Are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such an irresponsible and rogue nation? Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should be taken under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” he said.
Rajnath Singh termed Operation Sindoor as the biggest action taken by India against terrorism in history. It was a testament to the nation’s commitment to go to any extent to eliminate the scourge.
“Operation Sindoor was a commitment demonstrated by India of not just carrying out defence, but taking bold decisions whenever needed. It was a dream of every soldier that we will reach every terrorist hideout and destroy them. Terrorists killed Indians based on their religion, we killed them for their deeds. It was our dharma to eliminate them. Our forces gave the right direction to their anger and took revenge for Pahalgam with great courage and discretion,” he said.
He added that Operation Sindoor has sent a loud and clear message to the terrorist organisations hiding in Pakistan and their masters that they are not safe anywhere.
“Our forces have shown to the world that their aim is precise,” he said.
The Defence Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has redefined India’s policy against terrorism, which now says any attack on Indian soil will be considered as an act of war.
He emphasised that India has always prioritised peace and never supported war, however, when its sovereignty is attacked, it is necessary to respond.
“If Pakistan continues to support terrorism, it will pay a still heavier price,” he said.
Rajnath Singh stated that through the Pahalgam incident, an attempt was made to break the social unity of India, and the armed forces responded to the terror attack by hitting the heart of the adversary.
He recalled Pakistan’s declaration about 21 years ago in front of the then Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee that terrorism would no longer be exported from its land.
Singh said Pakistan has been deceiving India, and it must stop sheltering anti-India and terrorist organisations & not allow its land to be used against the country.
“Pakistan has reached a state where it has sought loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while India falls in the category of those countries which provide funds to IMF so that they can help poor countries,” he said.
Singh reasserted that no unwarranted action should be taken from across the border, which is the base of the understanding reached between the two countries.
He reiterated Prime Minister Modi’s views that terrorism and talks cannot go together, and if talks are held, it will only be on terrorism and PoK.
The Defence Minister paid tributes to the civilians killed in the Pahalgam terror attack and the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during Operation Sindoor.
Singh praised the armed forces for destroying Pakistani posts across the border, calling it a strong message to the enemy. “The people of India are proud of our forces,” he said.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernising the military with advanced weapons, indigenous equipment, and improved infrastructure along the Line of Control and Line of Actual Control.
Singh assured the armed forces of the nation’s unwavering support and expressed confidence in
India’s ability to eliminate terrorism with military cooperation.
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and other senior officials of the Indian Army were present on the occasion.
UNI
