ISLAMABAD: Gaining three more points since the last assessment, Pakistan ranks above India, Iran and North Korea in terms of handling hazardous materials, JEE News said on Thursday, an international survey of the state of global nuclear security. reported citing the organization.
According to JEE News reports, the country is now ranked 19th in the list of 22 states.
The Nuclear Security Index (NSI) – administered by the Washington-based Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), a non-profit organization that carefully records how countries handle nuclear material – indicators and standards. Measures countries’ nuclear security capabilities and efforts based on
These include safeguarding nuclear materials and facilities, adherence to international norms and agreements, regulatory frameworks for nuclear security, and implementation of best practices to prevent unauthorized access to nuclear weapons or materials.
The NTI index revealed that Pakistan’s score of 49 was higher than India’s 40, Iran’s 29 and North Korea’s 18.
It also revealed that Pakistan ranks 32nd in terms of security of its nuclear facilities, along with Russia and Israel, and is ahead of India, Iran, Mexico, South Africa and several others in a list of 47 countries.
However, the index expressed concern over global nuclear security, which it said was deteriorating.
It said, “After years of reporting flagging progress on nuclear security, NTI’s Nuclear Security Index for the first time in 2023 found that dozens of countries and regions with weapons-grade nuclear material and nuclear facilities have improved nuclear security. Things are taking a turn for the worse.”
The report’s authors also noted that several countries, including Pakistan, were “increasing their stockpiles of weapons-grade material”.
Eight countries – France, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia and the United Kingdom – have added to their stockpiles of weapons-usable nuclear material, in some cases by thousands of kilograms per year, making at least And eradication efforts have suffered. increasing the risk of theft,” the report said.
“Countries are also reneging on their commitments to confidence-building and information sharing, key drivers of progress during the Nuclear Security Summit.”
The latest NTI Index assesses the security of highly enriched uranium and plutonium against theft and the security of nuclear facilities against sabotage.
If stolen, this material can be used to make a nuclear bomb. Sabotaging a nuclear facility can also result in dangerous releases of radiation.
