Agreement between the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Reducing the Risk from Accidents Relating to Nuclear Weapons

• Country/entity

  India
  Pakistan
  
• Region

  Asia and Pacific
  Asia and Pacific
  
• Agreement name

  Agreement between the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Reducing the Risk from Accidents Relating to Nuclear Weapons
• Date

  21 Feb 2007
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Interstate/interstate conflict ( India-Pakistan Conflict (1947 - ) and the Pakistani Taliban (2001 - ) )
• Stage

  Framework/substantive - partial
• Conflict nature

  Territory
• Peace process

  India-Pakistan border and related process
• Parties

  K.C. Singh, Additional Secretary (IO), Government of the Republic of India; Tariq Osman Hyder, Additional Secretary (UN & EC), Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
• Third parties

  -
• Description

  Short agreement wherein both sides agree to keep communication open via the two foreign secretaries in regards to nuclear accidents to reduce the risk of nuclear fallout.

• Agreement document

  IN_PK_070221_Reducing the Risk from Accidents Relating to Nuclear Weapons,.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

Agreement between the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Reducing the Risk from Accidents relating to Nuclear Weapons

The Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, hereinafter referred to as the Parties:-

Recalling the Memorandum of Understanding signed at Lahore on 21 February 1999 between the two countries;

Recognising that both Parties have national measures including Command and Control structures to guard against accidents related to nuclear weapons;

Recognising that the nuclear dimension of the security environent of the two countries adds to their responsibility for avoidance of conflict between the two countries;

Committed to the objective of global and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament;

Conscious of the need for adopting measures aimed at promoting a stable environment of peace and security between the two countries;

Have agreed as follows;

Article 1

Each party shall maintain and improve, as it deems necessary, existing national measures including organisational and technical arrangement, to guard agaisnt accidents related to nuclear weapons under its control.

Article 2

The Parties shall notify each other immediately in the event of any accident relating to nuclear weapons, under their respective jurisdiction of control, which could create the rish of a radioactive fallout, which adverse consequences for both sides or create the risk of an outbreak of a nuclear war between the two countries.

In the event of such an accident the Party within whose jurisdiction or control the accident has taken place will immediately take necessary measures to minimize the radiological consequences of such an accident.

The obligation of a Party to notify shall be in respect of only such accidents which may result in an international transboundary release that could be of radiological sfetty significance of have security implication for the other Party.

Article 3

In the event of occurence of an accident of the type referred to in Article 2 of this Agreement:

(i) Each party shall act in such a manner as to reduce the possibility of its actions being misinterpreted by the other party;

(ii) In case of likely impact of the accident on the other Party, the first party shall inform the other Party forthwith with relevant information.

Article 4

The Parties shall make use of the hotline links between the two foreign secretarian and DGMOs or any other appropriate communication link as mutually agreed upon between their governments for transmission of, or request for, urgent information in situations relating to the implementation of this agreement.

The Parties may also make use of any other communication channels, including diplomatic channels depending upon the urgency of the situation.

Article 5

Information obtain by a Party pursuant to this Agreement shall not be disclosed to a third party without the prior consent of the other party except where it concerns environment, public health or safety.

Article 6

This Agreement shall not affect the rights and obligations of the Parties under existing international agreements to which that are a party.

Article 7

The parties may hold consultations, as mutually agreed upon, ro review the implementation of the provisions of this agreement as well as to consider possible amendments aimed at furtherig the objectives of this Agreement.

Amendments shall enter into force in accordance with procedures that shall be agreed upon.

Article 8

This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of five years.

Upon agreement by the parties, the Agreement may be extended for successive periods of five yesrs at a time.

A party may withdraw from this Agreement by fiving six months written notice to the other indicating its intention to terminate the agreement.

In witness thereof the undersigned being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this agreement.

Done at New Delhi on 21 February 2007 in to originals, in English language, each text being equally authentic.

K.C. Singh, Additional Secretary, Government of the Republic of India

Tariq Osman Hyder, Additional Secretary, Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.