Pakistan called the Indian media’s article a “dishonest attempt” to misrepresent the response of Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to a question concerning India’s missile attack on Pakistan on March 9 of this year.
The Indian media said that the UN nuclear watchdog was unconcerned about the nuclear-capable BrahMos missile fired from India into Pakistani territory.
In its response, the Foreign Office described the article as an attempt by Indian state-sponsored media to exonerate their nation of its “irresponsible nuclear behavior” by diverting the matter to DG IAEA.
“The available transcripts indicate that when asked if the IAEA had requested information from the Indian government on the event, the DG IAEA answered negatively. However, it should have been tempered by emphasizing that the IAEA does not have jurisdiction over such cases, “the assertion read.
Pakistan warned that the DG’s answer could not be “deliberately misunderstood” to “trivialize” the event involving the launch of a nuclear-capable BrahMos missile, which has significant consequences for regional and global security.
It stated that the occurrence had generated several issues regarding India’s behavior as a nuclear power, including whether or not it was an accident.
“India must also answer concerns about its underlying goals, the technical characteristics and dependability of its missile system, safety, security, and nuclear command and control protocols, and the presence of rogue elements in its military,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
Pakistan also urged that India provide explanations for serial thefts and illegal trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials, which are more pertinent to the IAEA’s mission.
The statement added, “It was expected to submit these nuclear security-related occurrences to the IAEA Incidents and Trafficking Database.”
Pakistan stated that the international community should continue to be concerned about the unaddressed crucial questions.
The Indian Express said that the IAEA did not view the missile misfire as a cause for particular worry and that the incident did not raise doubts about the safety of nuclear material and weapons in India.
The Indian Express reported on November 14 that Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated in an interview at the COP27 climate change conference that the incident was not considered a risk and that the Indian government had not been consulted on the matter.
Grossi reportedly responded, “no, we didn’t,” when asked whether the IAEA requested information regarding the event from the Indian government.
The report said that the DG replied negatively to a query on the safety of India’s nuclear assets.
