Opinion | Pakistan’s nuclear Assets Has Become a Global Concern

In today’s world, the true measure of a nuclear power is not the size of its arsenal but the credibility of its safety framework. For Pakistan, building such credibility remains an urgent and unfinished task.

Pakistan’s nuclear program has always drawn global attention due to its strategic location, its complex internal dynamics, and its long standing rivalry with India. Over the years, Islamabad has expanded its nuclear arsenal and maintained that its weapons are safe, well regulated, and tightly guarded. Yet the question of how these assets are protected, insured, and made risk free in a volatile environment continues to trouble analysts and policymakers worldwide. Nuclear weapons are not ordinary defence tools. They carry the potential for damage that transcends borders and generations. This makes the issue of their safety and insurance an international concern rather than a domestic administrative matter.

The concept of insuring nuclear assets does not merely refer to financial coverage but to a comprehensive security framework that guarantees the safety, stability, and accountability of these weapons. In nations with stable political systems, nuclear safety is ensured through robust oversight, transparent regulatory bodies, and predictable governance. Pakistan’s case is different due to the persistent threat of militancy, the presence of extremist groups, political upheavals, and an unstable economic environment. These factors together create anxiety about whether the command and control mechanisms can remain impregnable in all circumstances.

Pakistan’s nuclear command structure is officially governed by the National Command Authority which oversees the development, deployment, and security of nuclear assets. This authority includes military leadership, civilian representatives, and scientific experts. While Pakistan has repeatedly claimed that its nuclear weapons are stored in disassembled form and protected by sophisticated security systems, independent assessments often highlight vulnerabilities related to insider threats, political uncertainties, and the influence of radical elements that operate inside the country. The Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan, for instance, continues to launch attacks across the country and has proven its ability to penetrate sensitive areas. These threats raise concerns about whether such groups could, in extreme situations, target nuclear installations or exploit internal sympathisers.

Another major challenge relates to Pakistan’s continued hostility with Afghanistan and the unstable nature of the Durand Line. The presence of militant sanctuaries in Afghan and Pakistani border regions creates a volatile security environment. Pakistan’s inconsistent approach toward various militant factions has long been criticised, especially when some of these groups have been accused of exporting terror to neighbouring regions including Jammu and Kashmir. The concern is that a country that has struggled to control non state actors within its borders cannot guarantee perfect security for its most sensitive assets. This is why the international community often presses Pakistan to not only safeguard its nuclear material but to adopt transparent procedures and international best practices that reduce the risks of accidental loss, theft, or sabotage.

Insuring nuclear assets also requires stable political institutions. Pakistan has experienced frequent changes in leadership, tensions between civilian and military authorities, weak judicial oversight, and economic crises that reduce state capacity. In times of political chaos, national security institutions are stretched thin. The insurance of nuclear assets in such situations requires mechanisms that remain functional regardless of who governs the country. In Pakistan, however, political instability often leads to administrative paralysis which is a worrying factor when dealing with nuclear responsibilities.

Furthermore, Pakistan’s financial crisis has affected its defence spending and strategic planning. A country facing debt burdens, inflation, and dwindling foreign reserves may find it challenging to continuously invest in the most advanced security technologies needed for nuclear protection. Unlike major nuclear powers that maintain vast budgets for defence innovation, Pakistan struggles to balance internal economic pressures with strategic demands. This makes long term insurance of nuclear materials more complicated and potentially risk prone.

There is also an international legal dimension. Countries with nuclear assets are expected to comply with global safety norms identified by institutions such as the International Atomic Energy Agency. Pakistan is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty which places it outside the mainstream global nuclear safety architecture. While Pakistan has engaged in some cooperative mechanisms, it still lacks the full spectrum of internationally accepted obligations. This gap contributes to the perception that Pakistan’s nuclear assets remain outside the tight regulatory frame that governs other nuclear capable nations.

To genuinely insure its nuclear assets, Pakistan must pursue a series of structural reforms. Strengthening internal security, eliminating extremist sanctuaries, establishing transparent civilian oversight, modernising physical protection systems, and committing to international standards are essential steps. Most importantly, Pakistan must abandon the use of proxy groups and ensure that no state or non state actor in its territory is engaged in activities that export violence across borders, especially into regions like Jammu and Kashmir where Pakistan backed militant elements continue to spread terror. A state that sponsors or tolerates such networks increases the risks associated with its nuclear program.

Global nuclear security is interconnected. A failure in one region can create ripple effects across continents. Pakistan must therefore realise that the insurance of its nuclear assets is not only about protecting its national pride or strategic parity with India. It is about preventing any possibility of catastrophe, whether caused by negligence, extremism, miscalculation, or political instability.

In today’s world, the true measure of a nuclear power is not the size of its arsenal but the credibility of its safety framework. For Pakistan, building such credibility remains an urgent and unfinished task.

Author can be reached on syedjahanzeeb2@gmail.com