Conspiracy theories on the rise as IAEA DG visits Pakistan

Islamabad: Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi landed in Pakistan on Wednesday for his two-day visit.

His visit was followed by some conspiracy theories which linked the visit to Pakistan’s economic crisis and the country’s nuclear assets.

Some of those who criticized the visit tried to create the impression that Pakistan is willing to make some sort of compromise on its nuclear capabilities in exchange for dollars.

Prominent among those who peddled the conspiracy theory was Lt. General (retd) Haroon Aslam.

Haroon Aslam is known as a PTI supporter and a staunch opponent of Nawaz Sharif who had refused to promote him as chief of the army staff.

Most of the accounts who linked the visit to nuclear disarmament of Pakistan are known as PTI supporters.

The IAEA chief’s visit is a routine matter and it has nothing to do with the country’s economic crisis and nuclear disarmament.

Soon after arriving in the South Asian nation, the Director General IAEA called on Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Islamabad where the two exchanged views on matters of mutual interest.

Grossi’s visit will help Pakistan and the world’s ‘Atoms for Peace and Development’ organization to explore avenues and to boost cooperation in the area of peaceful applications of nuclear technology.

The country of over 220 million is a founding Member of the International Atomic Energy Agency for more than 50 years and enjoys longstanding and mutually beneficial collaboration with all members.