ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday formally voiced concerns about a new uranium supply and nuclear technology agreement between Canada and India, warning that the deal could upset the strategic balance in South Asia.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi issued the statement following the conclusion of the bilateral arrangement, which includes the supply of uranium, cooperation on small modular reactors, and advanced nuclear technologies. Andrabi stated that the arrangement as a "country-specific exception" undermines global non-proliferation efforts.
He noted the irony of the deal by citing India’s 1974 nuclear test, which used plutonium from a Canadian-supplied reactor and led directly to the creation of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
The spokesperson said a nation whose past actions necessitated global export controls is now receiving "preferential access" through selective agreements. He said that India has not placed all its civilian nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, and the current agreement includes no binding commitment to do so. With several facilities remaining shielded from international inspection, Andrabi said the deal lacks clear, concrete non-proliferation assurances.
The ministry warned of significant strategic consequences, stating that assured uranium supplies from external sources effectively free up India’s domestic reserves for military applications. This shift allows India to expand its fissile material stockpiles and accelerate the growth of its nuclear arsenal, deepening existing asymmetries in the region.
The spokesperson said that these developments contradict Canada’s own international non-proliferation obligations.
Islamabad maintains a non-discriminatory, criteria-based approach that must govern civil nuclear cooperation, he said. Such standards should apply equally to all states that are not parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Andrabi said that selective exceptions erode the credibility of the global framework and pose a risk to both regional and global security.
.jpg)
.jpg)
