India has to answer questions about conduct as nuclear state: FO

Foreign Office Spokesperson on Wednesday said the firing of BrahMos nuclear-capable missile into Pakistan’s territory on  March 9 raised several questions about India’s conduct as a nuclear state.

“India also needs to answer questions about the underlying intentions, technical features and reliability of the missile system, safety, security and nuclear command and control protocols, and the presence of rogue elements in the Indian military,” the spokesperson in a press release commented on a query regarding Indian media reports quoting Director General International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The reports said the firing of BrahMos nuclear-capable missile into Pakistan’s territory from India on March 9, 2022, was not a cause for any specific concern for the IAEA. “The report is a disingenuous attempt by the Indian state-sponsored media to absolve India of its irresponsible nuclear behaviour by directing this question at the Director General IAEA,” the spokesperson said.

🔊: PR NO. 5️⃣3️⃣0️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣2️⃣

Indian media’s disingenuous reporting on DG IAEA’s comments

🔗⬇️https://t.co/gdUkRvdLU4 pic.twitter.com/C9VZ5BE1YE

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) November 16, 2022

The director general’s response could not be purposely misinterpreted to trivialise the incident of a nuclear-capable BrahMos missile fire with grave implications for regional and global security. The available transcripts showed that IAEA DG responded negatively when asked whether the IAEA had sought information from the Indian government on the incident.

It should have been qualified by stating that IAEA has no mandate on such matters, it was further added. “India needs to explain several repeated incidents of nuclear and radioactive material theft and illicit trafficking that are more relevant to the IAEA mandate,” the spokesperson said.

It was expected to report these nuclear security-related incidents under the IAEA Incidents and trafficking database. These critical questions, which remain unanswered, should continue to be of concern to the international community, it was added.