ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has surpassed India, Iran, and North Korea in managing hazardous material. The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) based in Washington maintains the Nuclear Security Index (NSI).
It gained three points since the last assessment and now holds the 19th position among 22 states evaluated by an international organization dedicated to assessing global nuclear security. This non-profit entity meticulously assesses countries’ nuclear security capabilities and efforts using various indicators and criteria.
These include the security of nuclear materials and facilities, adherence to international norms and treaties, the regulatory framework for nuclear security, and the implementation of best practices to prevent unauthorized access to nuclear weapons or materials.
Pakistan’s score of 49 on the NTI index was higher than India’s 40, Iran’s 29, and North Korea’s 18.
Regarding the security of its nuclear facilities, Pakistan ranked 32, alongside Russia and Israel, outperforming India, Iran, Mexico, South Africa, and others in a list of 47 countries.
However, the index raised concerns about deteriorating global nuclear security. The report in 2023 revealed regression in nuclear security conditions in countries with weapons-usable nuclear materials and facilities.
The authors noted that some countries, including Pakistan, were increasing their stocks of weapon-grade materials. France, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, and the United Kingdom had increased their stocks, undermining efforts for minimization and elimination and increasing theft risks.
Countries were also failing to honor their commitments to confidence-building and information sharing, which were crucial drivers of progress during the Nuclear Security Summits period.
The latest NTI index assessed the security of highly enriched uranium and plutonium against theft, as well as the security of nuclear facilities against sabotage. The theft of these materials could lead to the construction of a nuclear bomb, and sabotage could cause dangerous radiation releases.
