ISLAMABAD: The United States-based Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) has ranked Pakistan as the “most improved among countries with materials” in its Nuclear Security Index 2020 report published on Wednesday.
Pakistan began a program to obtain nuclear weapons after a war with arch-rival and neighboring India in 1971. It tested nuclear weapons in May 1998, shortly after India announced it had done so.
“Most improved among countries with materials in 2020 is Pakistan, which improved its overall score by adopting new on-site physical protection and cybersecurity regulations, improving insider threat protection measures, and more,” the NTI index said.
Pakistan had improved its overall score, the index report said, by adopting "new on-site physical protection and cybersecurity regulations, improving insider threat protection measures, and more."
“Pakistan’s score improvement for regulatory measures is the second largest improvement for regulations in the Index since 2012,” the report said.
Pakistan and India both faced international sanctions as a result of conducting nuclear tests in 1998, although India has since won effective recognition as a nuclear power following an accord negotiated with the United States.
In February this year, at the third International Conference on Nuclear Security (ICONS) organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Pakistan said it had established a comprehensive and effective national nuclear security regime at par with international standards and guidelines.
“The regime is based on an extensive legislative and regulatory framework governing the security of nuclear materials, radioactive substances, associated facilities and activities,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry had said in a statement.
Neither India or Pakistan have signed the international Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, adhered to by most nuclear powers. Consequently, they are not obliged to submit to International Atomic Energy Agency oversight over all of their facilities.
Pakistan ranked 'most improved country' in new Nuclear Security Index
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Pakistan ranked 'most improved country' in new Nuclear Security Index
- US-based Nuclear Threat Initiative says Pakistan's score improvement second largest improvement for regulations since 2012
- Pakistan improved overall score through several measures like new on-site physical protection, cybersecurity regulations
Pakistan, Oman navies discuss maritime security, ink agreement to share shipping data
- Visiting Oman royal navy commander calls on Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf in Islamabad
- White shipping agreement refers to exchange of prior information on movement of commercial ships
ISLAMABAD: The naval commanders of Pakistan and Oman discussed regional maritime security on Wednesday and signed an agreement to share shipping information with each other, the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
The press release followed a meeting between Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and the visiting Oman Royal Navy Commander Rear Admiral Saif Bin Nasser Bin Mohsin Al Rahbi at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad.
Both navies maintain close professional relations, reflected in expert-level staff talks, joint training, bilateral exercises, and participation in multilateral exercises between the Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional maritime security and bilateral naval cooperation were discussed,” the Pakistan Navy said.
The MoU was signed by both sides at a ceremony at the Naval Headquarters, the navy’s media wing confirmed.
“The MoU is aimed at establishing of guidelines and procedures for information sharing in order to enhance mutual awareness of white shipping,” the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
White shipping agreement refers to the exchange of prior information on the movement and identity of commercial non-military merchant vessels.
Information regarding the identity of vessels helps countries tackle potential threats from sea routes. This particularly helps in the development of a proper regional maritime domain awareness
The statement said Al Rahbi lauded Pakistan Navy’s professionalism and acknowledged its ongoing contributions to maritime security and regional stability.
Pakistan and Oman share geographical proximity and common maritime boundaries. Bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries span a wide range of areas, including economic cooperation, people-to-people contacts and strong defense ties.
In December, a Royal Navy flotilla from Oman visited Karachi to take part in the annual bilateral Thamar Al Tayyib (TAT) 2025 exercise.
Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman have been conducting the TAT series of exercises regularly since 1980.
