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Islamabad: Pakistan has formally requested the United Nations Security Council to investigate repeated incidents of theft and illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials in India, citing significant security concerns in the region.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the appeal was made by Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, during a session of a committee established under UN Security Council Resolution 1540, which aims to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Ambassador Akram drew attention to a recent case reported by Indian media involving the arrest of three individuals in Bihar who were found in possession of highly radioactive Californium, an element that commands high prices on the black market.
Ambassador Akram highlighted several such incidents, including three separate thefts of Californium in 2021 alone, suggesting the presence of an active black market for dangerous substances in India. He expressed concern over the potential for these materials to fall into the wrong hands and emphasized the global implications of such security lapses.
Furthermore, Ambassador Akram reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the principles of Resolution 1540, detailing the country’s efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. He outlined Pakistan’s robust security measures, which include a comprehensive command and control system, strict legislative frameworks, and an extensive export control regime aligning with international standards.
In his address, Ambassador Akram also advocated for the rights of states to use dual-use technologies for peaceful purposes without discrimination and emphasized the importance of international cooperation and capacity building under the framework of Resolution 1540. He called for more specific mechanisms within the UN to facilitate assistance and support for states to meet their obligations under the resolution.
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