New Delhi: India on Friday responded to US President Donald Trump’s remarks naming Pakistan among countries conducting nuclear weapons tests, saying that Islamabad’s nuclear programme has long been shrouded in secrecy and illicit dealings.
Last week, Trump mentioned Pakistan while defending his administration’s decision to resume nuclear testing in the United States after more than three decades. He said the move was aimed at ensuring the reliability and deterrent capability of America’s nuclear arsenal.
In response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India has repeatedly warned the international community about Pakistan’s nuclear proliferation record and the activities of A.Q. Khan, the scientist widely regarded as the father of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme.
“Clandestine and illegal nuclear activities are in keeping with Pakistan’s history, which is centred around decades of smuggling, export control violations, secret partnerships, the A.Q. Khan network, and further proliferation,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
He added that India has “always drawn the attention of the international community” to these long-standing concerns.
“In this backdrop, we have taken note of President Trump’s comment about Pakistan’s nuclear testing,” Jaiswal stated.
Pakistan’s Nuclear History Under Scrutiny
A.Q. Khan, who passed away in 2021, is often described as the architect of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb. He was also accused of running a global proliferation network, helping supply sensitive nuclear and missile technology to countries such as North Korea, Iran, and Libya.
International agencies and intelligence reports have, for decades, linked his network to an underground market for nuclear materials, earning Pakistan a reputation for nuclear opacity and violations of export control norms.
Trump’s Nuclear Testing Push
President Trump, in his remarks, strongly defended his administration’s decision to restart nuclear testing in the US, asserting that it was necessary to maintain the reliability and credibility of America’s nuclear deterrent.
His comments came ahead of a scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which global nuclear stability and arms control were expected to be discussed.
India’s Firm Stand
India, a signatory to several international non-proliferation regimes and a nation with a responsible nuclear posture, has consistently raised concerns about Pakistan’s covert nuclear trade and its potential to destabilise regional and global security.
The MEA’s latest statement underscores New Delhi’s view that Pakistan’s nuclear record continues to be a matter of grave international concern, especially in light of past proliferation scandals.