International Nuclear Regimes and Pakistan 🌍☢️

🌍 International Nuclear Regimes and Pakistan

☢️ The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the main global organization that works for the peaceful, safe, and secure use of nuclear technology. It was created in 1957 because the world had both hopes and fears about nuclear energy after World War II. The idea for the Agency came from U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s famous “Atoms for Peace” speech at the United Nations on 8 December 1953. When the United States officially approved the IAEA Statute on 29 July 1957, the Agency was formally born. During a press conference after the signing at the White House, President Eisenhower recalled his earlier UN speech in which he proposed creating the IAEA.

From the beginning, the IAEA has been linked to nuclear technology and its different uses, including both weapons and peaceful applications in fields like medicine, agriculture, and energy. The IAEA’s Statute, approved unanimously by 81 countries in October 1956, defines its role as the world’s key organization for promoting nuclear technology for peaceful purposes while also preventing its misuse. The Agency’s headquarters were established in Vienna, Austria in October 1957, and later moved into the Vienna International Centre in August 1979.

Pakistan is one of the founding members of the IAEA, and it has maintained close cooperation with the Agency. Pakistan works with the IAEA in many areas such as nuclear power production, industrial nuclear technology, non-destructive testing, food and agriculture, radiation-induced mutation, soil improvement, radiation oncology, nuclear medicine, environmental protection, and isotope hydrology.

🕊️ Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is a major international agreement designed to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and technology, promote peaceful use of nuclear energy, and support nuclear disarmament. It is the only multilateral treaty in which nuclear-weapon states legally commit to working towards nuclear disarmament. The Treaty opened for signing in 1968, came into force in 1970, and was extended indefinitely in 1995. Today, 191 countries are members, including the five recognized nuclear-weapon states, making it the world’s most widely supported arms-control agreement.

The NPT is considered the foundation of the global non-proliferation system. It also encourages peaceful nuclear cooperation under IAEA safeguards, which verify through inspections that nuclear materials are not used for weapons.

🇵🇰 NPT and Pakistan

In South Asia, both India and Pakistan face global pressure to join the NPT. A key issue has been U.S. nuclear cooperation with India and the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, which many argue violates Articles I and II of the NPT because it allows nuclear cooperation with a non-NPT state. India’s waiver from Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) guidelines and potential membership in export-control regimes, like the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), also worries Pakistan. These developments disturb the strategic balance in the region and may trigger a nuclear and missile arms race.

Pakistan views country-specific safeguards as discriminatory and harmful to non-proliferation objectives. It also believes that the Indo-U.S. agreement might encourage NPT-member states to withdraw under Article X to pursue their own national interests.

🔒 Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT)

Since the NPT came into force, the production of fissile materials (which are essential for making nuclear weapons) has remained a major concern. Many states have long demanded a ban on producing these materials. In December 1993, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 48/75, calling for negotiations on a non-discriminatory, multilateral, and verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. This proposed treaty is known as the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT).

Negotiations have faced obstacles, mainly because some states want the treaty to include existing stockpiles, while others want to restrict only future production. Nuclear-weapon states resist including their current stocks, but many Non-Aligned countries argue that excluding them would unfairly benefit powerful states.

🇵🇰 Pakistan and FMCT

Pakistan has been the strongest voice demanding that existing fissile material stockpiles be included before negotiations begin. Pakistan argues that ignoring stockpiles would freeze current imbalances, especially when India already has a larger stockpile and benefits from the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal. Pakistan believes that too much global attention has been placed on non-proliferation, while disarmament has been neglected.

🚫 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)

The CTBT bans all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world. It opened for signing in 1996 and has been signed by 184 countries and ratified by 168. However, it cannot legally enter into force until 44 specific countries ratify it — and eight still have not, including China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran, Egypt, and the United States.

If it enters into force, the CTBT would stop nuclear explosive testing worldwide, making it harder for states to develop or upgrade nuclear weapons, and help prevent arms races, particularly in Asia.

🇮🇳 CTBT and India

India wants NSG membership but faces pressure to sign the CTBT. However, India has repeatedly said it will not sign the treaty, arguing that it wishes to retain the option of nuclear testing, especially while it reportedly works on thermonuclear capabilities.

🇵🇰 Pakistan’s View

Pakistan has historically supported the goals of the CTBT, even voting for it at the UN in 1996. However, Pakistan ties its decision directly to India’s actions because of India’s growing nuclear and missile capabilities. Pakistan has again proposed a bilateral test-ban arrangement with India, meaning both countries would agree not to test nuclear weapons. Pakistan has indicated it may sign the CTBT — but only after India does, which itself depends on U.S. and Chinese ratification.