For once, some good news. India and Pakistan have extended the agreement between them on reducing the risk of accidents relating to nuclear weapons for a further period of five years. The agreement was valid till February 20 2017.
This agreement was first implemented in February 2007, with a five year validity. The original agreement was the result of a three year deliberation process, spearheaded by Manmohan Singh and Pervez Musharraf. It has survived several tense situations, including the Mumbai terror attacks of 26/11 and the recent attacks in Pathankot and Uri.
Despite continuous tensions, the two countries tried a confidence-building exercise in 1988, by signing an agreement through which they would not attack each other's nuclear instalments. They also agreed to notify each other of their installations every year. In 1999, in Lahore, the two nations signed a memorandum of understanding, which also emphasised on the need to guard against accidents related to nuclear weapons.
The present agreement has been extended for the second time, the first time being 2012. Under it, the two countries have agreed to notify each other in the event of any accident related to nuclear weapons under their jurisdiction, which could create a radioactive fallout with adverse effects on both sides of the border. Under the agreement, the two countries are to use hotline links between foreign secretaries, diplomatic links or any other channel for any information in such situations. The pact also makes it binding on the two parties not to reveal any such information to a third party without the other's consent.
The validity of the agreement is for five years, to be reviewed and renewed subsequently.
These agreements are part of a larger global initiative to reduce the nuclear threat in the world, something that could happen by accident or intent.
