Former United States National Security Advisor John Bolton has warned over Pakistan’s ability to manage its nuclear weapons safely. He supported Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent remarks questioning the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
Bolton stated that the security of nuclear weapons has always been a major concern for the US, particularly in regions where security threats are high.
In a conversation with ANI, Bolton said, “The security of nuclear weapons is of very high priority for the United States anywhere in the world. Since I served in the George W Bush administration during the 9/11 and went with the then Secretary of State Colin Powell to Pakistan and then to India. One of the subjects that Colin Powell raised specifically with then-Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf was how secure Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities were. It has always remained a concern, and given India’s common border with Pakistan, it’s a very important concern.”
Bolton stressed the possible dangers if nuclear weapons were to fall into the wrong hands. He said, “We can never say that we can rest easy and completely relaxed, that we have it under control, because the risk of these nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists or irresponsible commanders making their own decisions about using nuclear weapons would be very dangerous.”
PAKISTAN’S NUCLEAR ARSENAL NEEDS TO BE MONITORED
During the visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to take responsibility for monitoring Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. He questioned whether nuclear weapons are safe in the hands of an “irresponsible and rogue nation” like Pakistan.
Bolton also made remarks about Pakistan’s acquisition of Turkish drones and Turkey’s military assistance to Islamabad. He stated that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expansive ambitions and goals beyond his borders. Bolton asserted that Turkey’s military presence in Pakistan must be watched carefully.
“Turkey’s drones are not the most sophisticated. The Erdogan administration has very expansive ambitions around the world. Erdogan has neo-autonomous aspirations, and the kind of support they are offering to Pakistan is something that bears very close attention going forward,” Bolton said.
With inputs from ANI