ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Arif Alvi on Friday called for international attention to illegal uranium sales in India after a number of recent incidents in which kilograms of the nuclear material were seized by Indian authorities.
Since early May, at least 13 kilograms of uranium worth millions of dollars were seized by law enforcers in the western Indian state of Maharashtra and in the eastern state of Jharkhand.
Pakistan has since expressed its "deep concern" over the incidents and called for a thorough investigation.
"International community should take serious note of illegal sale of uranium on black market in India," President Alvi said during a session with military officers from 12 countries who were attending a security workshop by the National Defense University in Islamabad.
"Radioactive substances in the wrong hands can endanger human lives and the security of nations," Alvi said, as quoted by his office.
On June 4, after the uranium incident in Jharkhand, Pakistan's foreign office said such incidents "point to lax controls, poor regulatory and enforcement mechanisms, as well as possible existence of a black market for nuclear materials inside India."
It also called for a probe over the security of nuclear materials in India to "prevent their diversion."
"It is equally important to ascertain the intent and ultimate user of the attempted uranium sale given its relevance to international peace and security as well as the sanctity of global non-proliferation regime."
"The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 and the IAEA Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) make it binding on states to ensure stringent measures to prevent nuclear material from falling into wrong hands."
The UN resolution regarding the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction was adopted unanimously in 2004.
The IAEA convention, ratified by both Pakistan and India, establishes legal obligations for parties regarding the physical protection of nuclear material. It criminalizes offences related to illicit trafficking and sabotage of nuclear material.
