Pakistan’s concerns over a significant nuclear deal raise alarm bells. State broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported that Islamabad is worried about Canada’s uranium supply pact with India and potential collaboration on small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced reactor technologies. Speaking to media queries, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tahir Andrabi, emphasized that “civil nuclear cooperation must adhere to a non-discriminatory, criteria-based approach applicable equally to states not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.”
Andrabi’s comments come in response to India’s specific deal with Canada. He highlighted that this arrangement represents another country-specific exception within civil nuclear cooperation and is particularly ironic given India’s involvement in the creation of stringent global export controls.
The spokesperson noted how India neither has all its civilian nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards nor undertaken any binding commitment to do so under the uranium supply agreement. Several facilities remain outside international inspection, with their status unclear. Andrabi also pointed out that external uranium supplies effectively release India’s domestic reserves for military use, potentially expanding fissile material stockpiles and accelerating its nuclear arsenal.
Given this context, the deal undermines Canada’s commitment to the global non-proliferation regime and its obligations under it. Furthermore, it raises questions about strategic consequences in South Asia where asymmetricities are already prevalent.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions within India-Canada relations, which have seen a resurgence after former rifts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney recently announced several agreements covering critical mineral cooperation, nuclear power supply deals, and promoting renewable energy use. However, these developments come against the backdrop of unresolved differences over human rights issues and accusations of violence against Sikh activists.
In essence, Pakistan’s concerns underscore broader geopolitical dynamics at play: a complex interplay between civil-nuclear cooperation, strategic alliances, and ongoing disputes that threaten to destabilize regional peace and security.