India on Friday strongly reacted to former US President Donald Trump’s recent claim that Pakistan has been secretly testing nuclear weapons, describing the activities as “clandestine and illegal” and consistent with Islamabad’s long-standing record. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted Pakistan’s history of nuclear proliferation involving smuggling, export violations, and the infamous A.Q. Khan network during a press briefing.
Trump, in an interview aired on CBS’s "60 Minutes," alleged that not only Pakistan but also Russia, China, and North Korea have continued underground nuclear testing despite global moratoriums. He stated that the US plans to resume testing in response to these covert activities to maintain strategic parity. Trump notably claimed, “Pakistan’s been testing. They don’t go and tell you about it. They test way underground, where people don’t know what’s happening.”
India has consistently alerted the international community to Pakistan's nuclear behavior, said Jaiswal, noting that the country’s past includes decades of secret partnerships and proliferation concerns underlined by the controversies surrounding the A.Q. Khan network. “In this backdrop, we have taken note of President Trump’s comment about Pakistan’s nuclear testing,” he added.
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Pakistan dismissed Trump’s assertions as unfounded, reiterating that it would not be the first country to resume nuclear tests. The Pakistani government maintains a unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing following its last official tests in 1998. Meanwhile, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh responded cautiously, affirming that India will act firmly and decisively when necessary.
The allegations have reignited global debate over nuclear arms control amid deteriorating international treaties and rising geopolitical tensions. Both India and the US continue to emphasize vigilance while calling for responsible nuclear stewardship from all nations, even as the world watches Pakistan’s nuclear activities with heightened scrutiny.
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