Put Pakistan Nuclear Arsenal under Watch: India

General Studies Paper-2

Context: The Union Defence Minister questioned the security of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal and called for its supervision by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

About

• Pakistan has tried to leverage its nuclear status against India.
• While India follows a no-first-use policy when it comes to nuclear weapons, Pakistan doesn’t have any such stated policy of restraint.

Pakistan’s Nuclear Arsenal

• Pakistan first tested nuclear weapons in 1998 in response to nuclear tests by India.
• Pakistan has vastly expanded its nuclear forces and remains outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) regime; the country is also a major source of proliferation concern.
• It is believed to possess an arsenal of about 170 nuclear warheads.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

• It is an international organization that promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy while working to prevent its use for military purposes, including nuclear weapons.
• It was established in 1957.
  • Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
  • Membership: 180 (as of 15 November 2024).
  • Motto: “Atoms for Peace and Development”.
  • Main Objective: Promote Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy.
• IAEA Safeguards are embedded in legally binding agreements.
• These safeguards are accepted by the states after the conclusion of such agreements with the agency.
• In 2005, the IAEA and its Director General, Mohamed ElBaradei, were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work for a safer and more peaceful world.
• Role:
  • Nuclear Safeguards and Verification: Monitors nuclear programs of member states to ensure they are not diverted to weapons programs, especially under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
  • Nuclear Safety and Security: Assists countries in strengthening nuclear safety standards, responding to emergencies, and preventing nuclear terrorism.
  • Technical Cooperation: Provides technical assistance to developing countries to use nuclear technology for sustainable development.
  • Role in Global Affairs: Works closely with the United Nations (UN) (it reports to the UN General Assembly and Security Council).
  • Plays a critical role in non-proliferation diplomacy, such as inspecting Iran’s nuclear program.

India and Its Nuclear Safety Commitments

• In 2014, India ratified the Additional Protocol (AP), which granted the IAEA greater access to India’s civil nuclear programme.
• India has signed an item-specific safeguards agreement under the IAEA along with Pakistan and Israel.
• They are nuclear-power states that are not a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
• India also changed its export laws to line up with the NSG, MTCR, Wassenaar Arrangement, and Australia Group — the four key nuclear control regimes.

India-Pakistan Nuclear Installation Agreement

• Signed in 1988 and brought into force in 1991, Non-nuclear aggression agreement (NAA) commits the two countries to abstain from attacking each other’s civilian nuclear facilities.
• It requires an annual exchange of the exact locations by latitude and longitude of power plants, enrichment labs, isotope separation units, and any site holding a significant quantity of radioactive material.
• The goal is to avoid triggering a nuclear catastrophe. However, the agreement does not mandate detailed disclosures about the nature or activities of these facilities.
• India has repeatedly proposed expanding the agreement to include a pledge not to target civilian and economic infrastructure, but Pakistan has consistently rejected such proposals.

Conclusion

• Pakistan’s lack of a declared no-first-use nuclear policy, in contrast to India’s commitment to such a doctrine, contributes to strategic instability in South Asia, raising the risk of escalation in the event of a conflict.
• Pakistan uses its nuclear capability to counter India’s conventional military edge, but its unrestrained doctrine highlights the need for confidence-building, dialogue, and regional arms control to maintain long-term peace and stability.