Pakistan Is ‘Most Improved’ Country Now On US Nuclear Security Index

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Pakistan is the “most improved country” after increasing its score by seven points, said United States’ study on worldwide nuclear materials security for 2020. Pakistan ranked 19 with 47 points. Interestingly, India ranked one place below Pakistan at the 20th spot with 41 points.

US Nuclear Security Index

According to the National Threat Initiative Nuclear Security Index report for 2020, the key reforms were in the Security and Control Measures category.

Meanwhile, progress was also witnessed in the Global Norms category where Pakistan’s ranking improved by one point.

The NTI report said Pakistan’s improvements in the Security and Control Measures category are “significant” as “strengthened laws and regulations result in durable boosts in Pakistan’s score as well as provide sustainable security benefits.”

Image: Pakistans Defense Ministry

Pakistan has improved in this category with new regulations. It improved by eight points in 2014; two points in 2016, and six points in 2018, it noted.

“The country’s score in 2014 improved owing to new regulations for on-site physical protection. In 2016, it passed new cybersecurity regulations. In 2018, it improved its inside threat protections.”

“[Pakistan’s] newest regulations mark a much larger shift. Compared with other countries’ score improvements in the Security and Control Measures category, Pakistan’s increase of 25 points is the second-largest improvement of any country since the Index first launched in 2012.”

The NTI report also highlighted Pakistan’s ranking in other categories.

Image: US Nuclear Security Index

Pakistan scores high (67-100) in Domestic Commitments and Capacity, medium (34-66) in both Security and Control Measures and Global Norms, and low (0-33) in Quantities and Sites.

The report also mentioned steps Pakistan needed to fill gaps. These steps include requiring more strict control and accounting measures, firming regulations on insider threat prevention, requiring security culture assessments, ratifying the International Convention for the Suppression of Nuclear Terrorism, and taking voluntary actions to support the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Also Read: Donald Trump Thinks Pakistan’s Nuclear Arsenal Is A “Problem” For US

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