Pakistan raises alarm over Canada-India nuclear pact

WEB DESK: Pakistan has formally expressed “serious concern” over the recent uranium supply agreement between Canada and India, cautioning that the deal, coupled with potential collaboration on advanced nuclear reactor technologies, represents a significant threat to regional stability.

According to the MOFA press release, officials emphasised that selective cooperation with states outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) sets a dangerous precedent that could undermine decades of diplomatic efforts to curb nuclear proliferation.

Core concerns

Pakistan’s critique is focused on three key pillars of regional and global security. First, Islamabad warns that “country-specific exceptions” risk eroding the credibility of the global non-proliferation regime. By granting India special status, the international community may inadvertently weaken the rules governing the handling and transfer of nuclear materials.

Second, the agreement is seen as a potential catalyst for a strategic imbalance in South Asia. Pakistan contends that the influx of foreign uranium and access to advanced nuclear technologies could trigger an arms race between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, thereby destabilising the delicate regional equilibrium.

Third, Pakistan is calling for fairness and consistency in civil nuclear cooperation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advocates a non-discriminatory, criteria-based approach, ensuring that such agreements are applied equally to all states outside the NPT framework, rather than privileging certain countries over others.

Seeking a level playing field

Pakistan’s position is unequivocal: nuclear trade must be governed by universal standards rather than geopolitical favouritism, in the interest of long-term global stability. Officials emphasised that “civil nuclear cooperation must be transparent and inclusive. Applying different rules to different nations only serves to heighten tensions and undermine the collective goal of a safer world.”

While reiterating its commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the government underscored that it cannot overlook developments which directly affect its national security and the broader security landscape of South Asia.