Pakistan voices concerns over 'attempted sale of uranium' in India

The development comes after Indian authorities arrested five people selling the radioactive material in Kolkata

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday voiced concerns after certain individuals were reportedly arrested in India for their involvement in selling uranium, a highly radioactive material used in nuclear facilities.

“Pakistan is deeply concerned about the reported incident involving the attempted sale of uranium in the black market,” Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal told reporters in Islamabad.

“We are looking forward to the results of further investigations. The report raises several questions about nuclear security and or/interest of criminal groups and individuals in uranium and their motivations,” the spokesperson added.

Pakistan’s reaction came just days after Indian authorities arrested five people from Kolkata who had come there to sell one kilogramme of uranium.



Officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also pointed out that such incidents had happened in the past in India. But the western countries, however, did not consider such incidents seriously.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson strongly denounced Indian forces for what he called their continued oppression in held Kashmir.

The spokesperson said that the recent fact-finding report by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) vindicated Pakistan’s stance on Indian Occupied Kashmir.

“The report is a reflection of Pakistan’s repeated calls to the international community to put an end to the brutal use of pellet guns, indiscriminate firing, use of human shield and promulgation of draconian AFPSA and SPA laws that are making lives of Kashmiris in IoK a living hell,” he maintained.



“We call upon the international community to take cognisance of the human rights situation as well as the report, and immediately call upon India to stop the bloodshed and give Kashmiris their just right to self-determination through a UN-mandated plebiscite,” he stressed.

On Afghanistan, Faisal said Pakistan had been saying all along that there was no military solution to the conflict.

“Others who were insistent to resolve the issue through military means are also arriving at the same conclusion, which is a good omen for the people of Afghanistan who have suffered immensely from the merciless conflict,” he added.

“We urge all sides including the Taliban to renounce kinetic options and join the peace and reconciliation process to end the brutal conflict in Afghanistan.”