Islamabad has officially expressed serious apprehensions regarding the recently announced uranium supply agreement between India and Canada. The Pakistani government warned that this deal could have far-reaching consequences for the strategic equilibrium in South Asia, as well as for the integrity of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. This reaction follows the high-profile visit of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to New Delhi, where he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi finalized several key agreements aimed at deepening bilateral ties.
During the visit, the two leaders underscored their commitment to enhancing economic collaboration and strategic partnerships, with a particular focus on civil nuclear energy cooperation. Among the agreements signed was a significant uranium supply contract valued at C$2.6 billion. Additionally, the two countries agreed to jointly pursue the development of cutting-edge nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors and advanced nuclear reactors, signaling a long-term vision for energy collaboration.
Prime Minister Modi hailed the uranium deal as a historic milestone that will secure a steady supply of nuclear fuel to support India’s expanding civil nuclear energy program. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Carney emphasized that this partnership would aid India in its efforts to generate clean, reliable base-load power, which is crucial for meeting the country’s growing energy demands while addressing environmental concerns.
In response, the Foreign Office spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, issued a statement highlighting Pakistan’s unease with the arrangement. He pointed out that this agreement represents yet another instance of a country-specific exception within the civil nuclear cooperation framework. Andrabi recalled that India’s 1974 nuclear test, which utilized plutonium derived from a Canadian-supplied reactor originally intended for peaceful purposes, was a pivotal event that led to the establishment of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to regulate nuclear exports globally.
The spokesperson described it as paradoxical that India, whose past actions prompted the creation of stringent nuclear export controls, is now benefiting from preferential access through selective agreements. Furthermore, Pakistan raised concerns that India has not subjected all its civilian nuclear facilities to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, nor has it committed to doing so under the terms of the new deal. This omission leaves several nuclear sites outside the scope of international inspections, raising questions about transparency and compliance.
Another critical issue highlighted was the lack of clarity regarding enforceable non-proliferation guarantees within the uranium supply agreement. The Pakistani Foreign Office questioned whether the deal includes robust mechanisms to prevent the diversion of nuclear material for military purposes. Islamabad warned that assured external uranium supplies might enable India to conserve its domestic uranium reserves, potentially freeing up material for weapons production. This could accelerate the growth of India’s nuclear arsenal, thereby exacerbating the existing strategic imbalance in the region.
Such developments, the statement emphasized, risk undermining regional peace and security by intensifying asymmetries between nuclear-armed neighbors. Moreover, Pakistan cautioned that this selective nuclear cooperation arrangement could compromise Canada’s stated commitment to uphold the principles of the international non-proliferation regime. Islamabad reiterated its longstanding position that civil nuclear cooperation must adhere to a non-discriminatory, criteria-based framework, especially concerning countries that have not signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
In conclusion, the Pakistani government stressed that granting special exceptions weakens the credibility and effectiveness of the global non-proliferation architecture. Such actions could have destabilizing effects not only on South Asia but also on broader international peace and security. As the uranium supply deal moves forward, Islamabad remains vigilant about its implications and continues to advocate for equitable and transparent nuclear governance worldwide.
