India exploits TTP abduction incident to divert attention from its nuclear safety failures

Islamabad: Following the abduction of 17 civilian workers by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as Fitna al Khawarij, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Indian social media accounts — backed by RAW — have launched baseless propaganda targeting Pakistan’s nuclear program.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the workers were abducted on January 9, 2025, while en route to a mining project in the Kabalkhel area of Lakki Marwat district. Although Pakistan’s security forces have successfully rescued eight of the abducted individuals, Indian accounts have sought to exploit the incident by spreading false narratives intended to malign Pakistan’s image.

These accounts have been found glorifying TTP’s acts of terrorism while framing Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities as a security threat. This propaganda, however, appears to be a calculated effort to distract from India’s own troubling record on nuclear safety, raising serious doubts about its credibility as a responsible nuclear state.

India’s nuclear security track record is marred by numerous incidents that highlight critical vulnerabilities. In August 2024, three individuals were arrested in Bihar’s Gopalganj district with 50 grams of rare Californium stone, a highly radioactive substance at around Rs 850 crore in the international market. In February 2022, two Indian nationals were arrested in Nepal for attempting to smuggle uranium-like substances. In June 2021, seven individuals were arrested in Jharkhand for illegally possessing 6.4 kilograms of uranium. In May 2021, unauthorized individuals were caught trying to sell nearly 7 kilograms of uranium on the black market. Additionally, U.S. experts in 2015 warned about the vulnerability of India’s nuclear materials to theft, further undermining its nuclear security.

These incidents, among others, expose significant gaps in India’s nuclear safety infrastructure, raising concerns about the ability to secure its nuclear materials.

The glorification of TTP’s terrorist activities by Indian social media accounts is a clear attempt to shift global focus from India’s own nuclear safety lapses. In stark contrast, Pakistan has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the safety and security of its nuclear program, adhering to strict international standards and safeguards.

Attempting to draw a false equivalence between the abduction of miners and nuclear safety, as seen in India’s propaganda, is not only misleading but exposes the lengths to which India will go to deflect attention from its own nuclear security failures.

While India attempts to divert attention through misinformation, Pakistan remains resolute in its efforts to combat terrorism. Pakistan’s security forces are actively addressing the TTP threat with full national support, remaining determined to neutralize the group through decisive actions. The false narratives pushed by Indian accounts only serve to highlight the desperation to divert attention from India’s own nuclear safety failures.

Pakistan has consistently demonstrated its responsibility as a nuclear weapon state, effectively implementing the IAEA’s nuclear security program. In contrast, India’s repeated failures to secure its nuclear assets highlight serious risks, not just for its own citizens but for global security. India’s inability to properly regulate and protect critical nuclear materials places its credibility as a responsible nuclear state under intense scrutiny, with potentially catastrophic consequences if mishandled.

Pakistan will continue to stand strong in defending its sovereignty, protecting its nuclear security, and combating terrorism with the full support of the nation. India’s attempts to undermine Pakistan’s efforts are doomed to fail as the country remains resolute in its mission for peace, security, and stability.