World should be wary of Israel’s nuclear prowess, says Defence Minister

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has urged the international community to pay serious attention to Israel’s unregulated nuclear capabilities, warning that they pose a threat to global peace, ARY News reported.

In a strong statement on shared on X (former Twitter), Khawaja Asif said that Israel is the only state completely exempt from global nuclear regulations and remains outside the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

“Israel is not a signatory to the NPT or any other international treaty that ensures accountability,” he said.

The defence minister described Israel’s nuclear program as irresponsible and unchecked, claiming it presents a serious threat to global security.

Khawaja Asif emphasised that Pakistan’s nuclear program is strictly for defense and the protection of its people, and that Pakistan fully adheres to international nuclear norms and non-proliferation principles.

Criticising Western nations, he said blind support for Israel risks destabilising the region and global peace.

“Western world must worry about conflicts being generated by Israel, it will engulf the whole region and beyond, their patronage of Israel a rogue state can have catastrophic consequences.,” he warned.

Khawaja Asif added that the conflicts triggered by Israel could engulf the entire region, and urged the global community to address Israeli actions with urgency.

Read More: Handover of Abhinandan to India was a surrender: Defence Minister

Earlier, Khawaja Asif termed the handing over of captured Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman to India as a “surrender.”

Pakistan freed and handed over Abhinandan to India on 1 March 2019, two days after he was captured, when his fighter jet was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force during New Dehli’s aggression against Pakistan.

Speaking during a session of the National Assembly, Khawaja Asif stated that the return of Abhinandan was a blow to national dignity by the then Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

“We captured an enemy pilot and surrendered within 24 hours. We were ashamed then, and we remain ashamed today,” he said.

The defence minister further stated that the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other terrorist groups operating in Pakistan are “proxies of India” and are fighting a war on behalf of New Delhi.