Pakistan has expressed serious concerns over the repeated incidents of theft and illicit sales of nuclear and radioactive materials in India, highlighting significant security lapses. The latest incident involves a gang in India found in illegal possession of Californium, a highly radioactive and toxic substance worth an estimated $100 million. This alarming event follows several similar incidents, raising questions about India’s nuclear safety protocols.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan, voiced the country’s worries in response to the recent arrest of individuals in possession of Californium. She emphasized that this is not an isolated case, recalling three similar incidents of Californium theft reported in 2021. “These recurring incidents call into question the measures taken by New Delhi for the safety and security of nuclear and other radioactive material,” Baloch stated, suggesting that these events indicate the presence of a black market for sensitive, dual-use materials within India.
Incidents of Californium Theft Raise International Worries
The international community is increasingly concerned about the security of nuclear materials in India. In the latest case, Indian authorities arrested individuals in Bihar state who were found with 50 grams of Californium, a substance that is restricted due to its use in nuclear power plants and cancer treatment. The material’s illegal possession has intensified fears about how such sensitive items could be mishandled and fall into the wrong hands.
Read More: Maulana Tariq Jameel Hosts Dinner for Arshad Nadeem
This incident is part of a troubling pattern. In May 2021, Indian police in Maharashtra arrested two men with over seven kilograms of natural uranium, followed by another seizure of 6.4 kilograms of uranium in Jharkhand. These cases, along with the recent arrests in Dehradun involving a device stolen from the Bhabha Atomic Research Center, underscore the gravity of the situation. The Pakistani Foreign Office has repeatedly urged India to conduct thorough investigations and implement effective measures to prevent such occurrences.
Call for Global Attention on Radioactive Material Safety
The potential dangers posed by the recurring thefts of nuclear materials in India have prompted Pakistan to call for greater international scrutiny. The Foreign Office has demanded that India provide a transparent account of how sealed radioactive source materials like Californium ended up in the possession of unauthorized individuals. “It is dangerous for such sensitive material in India to be routinely found in the wrong hands,” Baloch warned, stressing the global implications of these security breaches.
The incidents have sparked a debate over India’s ability to safeguard its nuclear resources. As these materials are crucial for various industrial and medical applications, their mismanagement poses significant risks not only to the region but to global security as well. Pakistan continues to urge the international community to hold India accountable and ensure that comprehensive steps are taken to secure all nuclear and radioactive substances to prevent any potential catastrophe.
By highlighting the systemic issues in India’s nuclear security apparatus and the need for international oversight, the article provides a comprehensive overview of Pakistan’s concerns and the broader implications of these alarming incidents.