COOPERATION IN FISSILE MATERIAL MANAGEMENT:THE VIEW FROM PAKISTAN

摘要

All nuclear related activity in Pakistan including production and management of fissilernmaterial and other nuclear materials is under the control of the Federal Government.rnIAEA guides lines are generally followed for the accountability and physical protectionrnof fissile materials. India followed by Pakistan carried out their nuclear tests in 1998.rnSince then both countries are apparently engaged in restructuring their organizational setrnup to meet the needs of new realities and to assure the international community that theyrnare mature and responsible nuclear weapon states. Pakistan Government has alreadyrnintroduced important changes in the procedures for the handling of fissile material inrnorder to make sure that it remains secure and does not fall in the hand of un-authorizedrnindividuals and other third parties.rnWhile Pakistani administration is engaged in progressive improvements, it is desirablernthat more advanced counties, particularly USA, may offer technical assistance so thatrnappropriate measures can be put in place more expeditiously. However there arerndifficulties and constraints to start this cooperative effort. This paper will attempt torndescribe the present practices for the material handling in Pakistan, the procedural andrnlegislative improvements being introduced, the areas where USA could offer somernassistance, the hurdles in way of cooperation and recommendations to overcome theserndifficulties.