The agreement between Pakistan and India on reducing the risk from accidents relating to nuclear weapons came into force on Tuesday has been extended for another five-year of term.
"Pursuant of the understanding reached during the sixth round of Pakistan-India expert level talks on Nuclear Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), held in Islamabad on December 27, 2011, the two sides have agreed to extend the validity of the "Agreement on Reducing the Risk from Accidents Relating to Nuclear Weapons" for another five years, with effect from February 21, 2012", said the Foreign Office in a statement here. It said that the agreement had entered into force on February 21, 2007 for an initial duration of five years. "It aims at reducing the risk from accidents related to nuclear weapons", the Foreign Office said.
The expert groups of nuclear confidence-building measures (CBMs) of the two neighbouring nuclear rivals had recommended the five-year extension in validity of the accord on reducing risk from accidents relating to nuclear weapons during the sixth round of dialogue on the matter held here on December 27, 2011.
The two sides have reviewed the implementation and strengthening of existing CBMs in the framework of Lahore MoU, and agreed to explore possibilities for mutually acceptable additional CBMs.
Signed on February 21, 2007 at New Delhi, the "Agreement on Reducing the Risk from Accidents Relating to Nuclear Weapons", the two countries had expressed commitment to the objective of global and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament and also developed conscious of the need for adopting measures aimed at promoting a stable environment of peace and security between the two countries.
In its Article-8, the agreement says, "Upon agreement by the Parties, the Agreement may be extended for successive periods of five years at a time. A Party may withdraw from this Agreement by giving six months written notice to the other indicating its intention to terminate the Agreement.
Under Article-2 of the accord, the two sides have agreed that the parties shall notify each other immediately in the event of any accident relating to nuclear weapons, under their respective jurisdiction or control, which could create the risk of a radioactive fallout, with 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 minimise 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 safety significance or have security implication for the other party.