ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday strongly denied Indian claims of clandestine nuclear testing, reaffirming that it has not conducted any nuclear tests since May 1998. Foreign Office spokesman Tahir Andrabi described the allegations as “baseless and malicious” and emphasized that Pakistan has maintained a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear testing.
Responding to India’s reference to a remark by former US President Donald Trump, Andrabi clarified that Pakistan’s position on nuclear testing has been consistent and that Trump’s comment had been misrepresented. “Pakistan’s nuclear program operates under a robust command and control structure, with comprehensive export controls and a strong record of compliance with the global non-proliferation regime,” he said.
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Andrabi highlighted that Pakistan supports UN General Assembly resolutions calling for a comprehensive ban on nuclear testing, contrasting this with India’s abstentions on such resolutions. He also dismissed Indian claims of clandestine nuclear activities as part of a disinformation campaign aimed at diverting attention from India’s own record on nuclear safety and security.
The FO spokesperson cited multiple incidents in India, including theft and illicit trafficking of radioactive materials, as evidence of serious deficiencies in India’s nuclear safety framework. Andrabi warned that these gaps pose a grave threat to regional and global security and called on the international community to take notice.
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Pakistan has not signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, retaining the flexibility to resume testing if its security environment deteriorates, particularly in relation to India. However, it remains committed to non-proliferation and maintaining the moratorium in the current strategic context.