The Non-nuclear aggression agreement is a bilateral and nuclear weapons control treaty between the two South Asian states, India and Pakistan, on the reduction (or limitation) of nuclear arms and pledged not to attack or assist foreign powers to attack on each's nuclear installations and facilities.[1] The treaty was drafted in 1988, and signed by the Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and her Indian counterpart, Rajiv Gandhi on 21 December 1988; it entered into force in January 1991.[1]
| Agreement Between India and Pakistan on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities | |
|---|---|
 Flags of India and Pakistan, 2012 | |
| Type | Strategic Nuclear reduction, control and avoidance of subsequent nuclear conflicts |
| Context | Cold War |
| Drafted | 30 November 1988 (1988-11-30) |
| Signed | 21 December 1988 |
| Location | Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Effective | 1 January 1991 |
| Condition | Ratification of both parties |
| Expiration | Agreement is still in effect |
| Mediators | Science ministries of India and Pakistan |
| Negotiators | Foreign ministries of India and Pakistan |
| Signatories | Rajiv Gandhi (Prime Minister of India) Benazir Bhutto (Prime Minister of Pakistan) |
| Parties |  India Pakistan |
| Ratifiers | Parliament of India Parliament of Pakistan |
| Depositary | Governments of Pakistan and India |
| Languages | |
The treaty barred its signatories to carry out a surprise attack (or to assist foreign power to attack) on each other's nuclear installations and facilities. The treaty provides a confidence-building security measure environment and refrained each party from "undertaking, encouraging, or participating in,directly or indirectly, any action aimed at causing destruction or damage to any nuclear installation or facility in each country".[1] Starting in January 1992, India and Pakistan have annually exchanged lists of their respective military and civilian nuclear-related facilities.[2]
Historical context
editIn 1986–87, the massive exercise, Brasstacks was carried out by the Indian Army, raising the fears of Indian attack on Pakistan's nuclear facilities.[3] Since then, the Foreign ministries of both countries had been negotiating to reach an understanding towards the control of nuclear weapons.[2]
After the 1988 general elections, Prime minister Benazir Bhutto extended the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.[4] On 21 December 1988, Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi paid a state visit to Pakistan and met with Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Islamabad.[4] Further discussion brought the negotiations to an end on 21 December 1988, in Islamabad, when Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi signed the "Non-Nuclear Attack Agreement". The treaty was ratified by the parliaments of India and Pakistan on ratified on 27 January 1991.[1] The first list of India and Pakistan's nuclear installations was swapped between two nations on 1 January 1992.[5][6]
Notes and references
edit- ^ a b c d "India-Pakistan Non-Attack Agreement". Work of Governments of India and Pakistan. Nuclear Threat Initiatives (NTI). Retrieved 14 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Pakistan, India swap nuclear sites lists". China News. 1 January 2011. Archived from the original on 6 January 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
- ^ See: Operation Brasstacks of Indian Army
- ^ a b Hassan, Akhtar (27 February 1999). "Declaration termed milestone: No concessions made at summit: FO". Dawn News, 1999. Archived from the original on 15 October 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
- ^ "Pakistan, India to swap nuclear sites lists today". The Nation. 1 January 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
- ^ "Pakistan, India swap lists of nuclear sites". CNN. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
Government sources
edit- Public Domain. "India-Pakistan Non-Attack Agreement". Work of Governments of India and Pakistan. Published by Nuclear Threat Initiatives (NTI). Retrieved 14 February 2013.