IAEA Confirms No Radiation Leak In Pakistan

Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, India’s Defence Ministry urged the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to exercise stricter oversight over Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.

This came after unverified social media claims alleged that Indian strikes had hit nuclear facilities in Kirana Hills, raising global concerns about a potential radiation leak.

Key Highlights

Operation Sindoor & Speculation: The military operation led to speculative reports that Indian airstrikes targeted Pakistan’s Kirana Hills, a site historically associated with nuclear activity.
IAEA Confirmation: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) clarified that there was no radiation leak or nuclear incident at any Pakistani facility.
India’s Clarification: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that India’s military actions were limited to conventional targets, such as the Sargodha airbase, and that the country adheres to its nuclear doctrine.

About IAEA and Its Mandate

It is a UN-affiliated autonomous international organization headquartered in Vienna, Austria.

Established: 1957
Motto: “Atoms for Peace and Development”
Primary Mandate: Promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy and prevent its use for military purposes, including nuclear weapons.
Members: 180 (India is a member)
- North Korea: Joined in 1974, withdrew in 1994.
General Conference: All member states meet annually in Vienna.
Key Functions:
- Conduct inspections and safeguards in member states.
- Monitor nuclear safety and radiation protection.
- Provide technical assistance in nuclear science and medicine.
- Issue reports on nuclear incidents and global compliance.

The IAEA and the Non-Proliferation Treaty

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was opened for signature in 1968 and entered into force on 5 March 1970 and It is the centrepiece of global efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament.
The IAEA is not a member of the NPT entrusted with key verification responsibilities under the Treaty.
- Each non-nuclear-weapon State party is required under the NPT to conclude a comprehensive safeguards agreement (CSA) with the IAEA.
Recognition: Received Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 for promoting peaceful nuclear use and global safety.

Nuclear Frameworks and Export Control Regime

Treaty / Framework	Objective	India’s Membership Status
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)	Prevent the spread of nuclear weapons	Not a signatory
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)	Ban all nuclear explosions	Not signed, supports moratorium
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)	Control nuclear exports and technology transfer	Not a member
IAEA Safeguards Agreement	Ensure peaceful use of nuclear energy	Select civilian facilities under it
India–U.S. Civil Nuclear Agreement (2008)	Enable civil nuclear cooperation under safeguards	In force with IAEA protocols
Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) – 1987	Limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology	Member since June 2016
Australia Group	Control exports to prevent chemical and biological weapons proliferation	Member since January 2018
Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) – 1996	Promote transparency in transfer of arms and dual-use goods/technologies	Member since 2017

PWOnlyIAS Extra Edge: India’s Nuclear Doctrine

No First Use (NFU): Nuclear weapons will not be used unless first attacked by an adversary with nuclear weapons.
Credible Minimum Deterrence: Maintains a survivable arsenal that deters adversaries.
No use against non-nuclear states.
Nuclear Deterrence of chemical and biological weapons (CBW)
Massive retaliation against any use of Nuclear weapons on Indian forces or citizens anywhere in the world.
Nuclear Command and Control under Political Authority

Additional Reading: Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack Against Nuclear Installations (1988); The Global Nuclear Order in Contemporary Geopolitics

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