Question : NUCLEAR RISK REDUCTION PACT



(a) whether India has recently signed any nuclear risk reduction pact with Pakistan;

(b) if so, the salient features thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether any such pact was signed in the past; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

Answer given by the minister

THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE)

(a) Yes. An Agreement on Reducing the Risk from Accidents Relating to Nuclear Weapons was signed on February 21, 2007 in New Delhi.

(b) The Agreement commits India and Pakistan to maintain and improve as necessary existing national measures to guard against accidents related to nuclear weapons under its control. The two parties have agreed to notify each other immediately in the event of any accident related 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 nuclear war between the two countries. In the event of such an accident, each party is also obliged to act in a manner as to reduce the possibility of its actions being misinterpreted by the other.

The objective of the Agreement is to enhance mutual security by reducing the risk from accidents related to nuclear weapons.

(c) No.

(d) Does not arise.