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
Omani, Pakistani navies conduct joint passage exercise to enhance interoperability
- The development came as a Pakistani flotilla visited Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat on overseas deployment
- Pakistan, Oman are maritime neighbors and frequently hold visits of dignitaries, port calls and joint exercises
ISLAMABAD: The Omani and Pakistani navies conducted a joint passage exercise in regional waters aimed at enhancing interoperability and strengthening maritime cooperation between the two countries, Pakistan Navy said on Sunday.
The development came after a Pakistani flotilla, comprising naval ships Rah Naward and Madadgar and a Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) ship PMSS Kashmir, visited Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat, according to the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) of Pakistan Navy.
“Following the port call, PN and PMSA ships conducted a passage exercise with Royal Oman Navy ship KHASAB,” the DGPR said in a statement.
“The exercise at sea aimed to enhance interoperability between the two navies and promote shared learning through bilateral conduct of naval exercises.”
During the visit, Pakistani Mission Commander Commodore Amir Iqbal, along with commanding officers, held meetings with Omani naval leadership, according to the statement.
“During these interactions, matters of mutual interest, navy-to-navy engagements, and cooperation in maritime security were discussed,” the statement read.
“RNO (Royal Navy of Oman) officers and midshipmen also visited onboard ships and discussed topics of mutual maritime interest with PN officers.”
Pakistan and Oman are maritime neighbors and frequently hold visits of dignitaries, port calls by ships and joint exercises.
Last month, naval commanders of Pakistan and Oman met in Islamabad and signed an agreement to share shipping information with each other.
“The MoU is aimed at establishing of guidelines and procedures for information sharing in order to enhance mutual awareness of white shipping,” Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
