Zoporozhye Nuclear Power Plant

Dr. Jassim Taqui, DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic studies 

Marking the 25th rotation of IAEA personnel to the Zoporozhye Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, the IAEA reaffirmed its commitment to monitor nuclear safety and security at Europe's largest nuclear power plant. 

The IAEA is based on the premises to help prevent the threat of a nuclear accident, which would be catastrophic for Ukraine and the region, constituting a Calamity for human health and the environment. 

These personnel are deployed to the Zoporozhye Nuclear Power Plant to help prevent a radiological accident during the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. 

The IAEA first deployed its teams to the site in September 2022 and has been continuously rotating its personnel on missions spanning several weeks since then. 

This was around the same time the plant, located on the left bank of the Dnepr River, fell to Russia, and has remained under Russian control since. 

However, it has come under repeated attacks since then, which has raised security concerns. 

Recently, Russia claims to have thwarted a Ukrainian operation, codenamed Short Circuit to infiltrate and seize the plant on October 11. 

Therefore, such an operation to take over a nuclear power plant is unprecedented and involves immaculate planning and execution, albeit with a high degree of risk. 

It is pertinent to note that not only did Russia manage to pull off the operation, but it also successfully engaged the international community to deploy IAEA teams to the site, who are, in effect, guarantors that no fighting will threaten the safety and security of the power plant. 

For Pakistan, this poses a worrying precedent, since its nuclear facilities have long been accused of being under threat of falling into extremist hands. 

At the same time, B52 bombers continue to be stationed a short distance from the Pakistani mainland, with the ever-present threat that its nuclear facilities may come under preemptive attack in the event of internal strife in Pakistan that spills over close to nuclear installations.  

This precedent and security scenario encourages forces hostile to Pakistan to engineer an attack close to its nuclear installations, thereby compelling international forces and watchdogs to take preemptive measures. 

All such preemptive interventions inevitably lead to Pakistani disarmament and dismemberment.