In a stern and urgent warning, Pakistan has expressed grave concerns over the repeated incidents of theft and illicit trade involving highly radioactive and nuclear materials in India.
Islamabad suspects the existence of a black market for such dangerous substances in its neighboring country, which poses significant risks not only to the region but to global security.
The latest incident involved a gang in India found illegally in possession of Californium, a highly radioactive and toxic substance valued at $100 million.
This alarming revelation has further fueled Islamabad’s worries about the safety measures in place across the border.
“Pakistan has expressed serious concerns over the repeated incidents of theft and illegal trade involving nuclear and radioactive materials in India,” said Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Baloch highlighted that this is not an isolated case, pointing out that three similar thefts of Californium were reported in 2021 alone, raising serious questions about India’s ability to safeguard such sensitive materials.
Moreover, Pakistan is particularly troubled by the case involving five individuals found in possession of a radioactive device allegedly stolen from the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) in Dehradun just last month.
These recurring incidents suggest that nuclear and other radioactive materials are dangerously accessible within India, sparking fears of a burgeoning black market.
Following the recent seizure of Californium, Indian authorities notified the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the central body responsible for nuclear oversight in the country, to conduct a comprehensive investigation.
However, Islamabad is demanding more transparency and international scrutiny, emphasizing that the global community deserves an honest disclosure of how such materials repeatedly end up in unauthorized hands.
In its strong response, Pakistan has reiterated the need for a thorough investigation and urged India to implement more stringent security measures to prevent these alarming breaches from happening again.
The potential for such materials to be used in malicious activities makes it imperative for India to address these lapses seriously and promptly, ensuring that nuclear safety and security are not compromised.
The international community now watches closely, awaiting India’s actions to safeguard not only its own citizens but also the broader region from the dangers posed by these recurring incidents of nuclear theft and illicit trade.
