India claims to be a responsible nuclear weapon state, yet it faces recurring instances of uranium thefts. Such repeated nuclear incidents undermine global peace and security.
Indian security agencies, on 3 June 2021, arrested seven people and seized 6.4 kilograms of uranium from their possession, making it the second time in less than a month that authorities have captured a large quantity of radioactive material from unauthorized persons. The last such incident took place in the Indian state of Maharashtra on 5 May 2021, where more than seven kgs of Uranium was seized.
The latest incident of nuclear theft took place in the eastern state of Jharkhand in Bokaro district which is home to uranium reserves. The increasing incidents of nuclear trafficking in India have rung alarm bells across the globe.
In response to these disturbing developments in India, Pakistan and the world have rightly raised concerns over the safety and security of nuclear material in India. Pakistan’s foreign ministry has demanded a thorough investigation into the reports of illicit uranium trafficking in India.
