Daily Times

Pakistan on Friday, while describing the reports of yet another incident of attempted illegal sale of uranium in India as a matter of deep concern, reiterated its call for thorough investigation of such incidents and measures for strengthening the security of nuclear materials to prevent their diversion.

“We have seen the reports about yet another incident of attempted illegal sale of 6 kg of uranium in India. Similar incident involving 7 kg of uranium in the Indian state of Maharashtra last month and other such reports in the past are a matter of deep concern as they point to lax controls, poor regulatory and enforcement mechanisms, as well as possible existence of a black market for nuclear materials inside India,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri stated while responding to media queries on the subject.

He pointed to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) which make it binding on states to ensure stringent measures to prevent nuclear material from falling into wrong hands. “It is equally important to ascertain the intent and ultimate use of the attempted uranium sale given its relevance to international peace and security as well as the sanctity of global non-proliferation regime,” the spokesperson maintained.

Earlier reports emerged that police in India has arrested seven people and seized 6.4 kilogrammes of uranium from their possession, marking the second time in less than a month that authorities have captured a large quantity of the radioactive material from unauthorised persons in the country.

According to the Indian Express, the incident took place in the eastern state of Jharkhand in Bokaro district. The report said that officials had not yet arrested the prime suspect from whom the substance was procured. “Seven people were arrested for possessing and planning to sell a mineral, which is suspected to be uranium after we received a tip. We are further investigating the case and the mineral [has been] sent to the lab to check its veracity,” the report quoted SP Chandan Jha as saying. However, the publication noted that the press release issued by the Bokaro police and the FIR mentioned the mineral to be uranium.