Lahore Declaration
| |
---|---|
Type | Strategic nuclear governance, control, and law |
Drafted | 19 December 1998 – 19 January 1999( Draft period 1 month) |
Signed | 21 February 1999 |
Location | Lahore, Pakistan |
Effective | 21 February 1999 |
Condition | Ratification of both parties |
Expiration | Agreement is still in effect |
Negotiators | Minister of External Affairs of India and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan |
Signatories | Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Prime Minister of India) Nawaz Sharif (Prime Minister of Pakistan) |
Parties | India Pakistan |
Ratifiers | Parliament of India Parliament of Pakistan |
Depositary | Government of Pakistan and Government of India |
Languages |
|
The Lahore Declaration was a
Under the terms of the treaty, a mutual understanding was reached towards the development of atomic arsenals and to avoid accidental and unauthorised operational use of nuclear weapons. The Lahore Declaration brought added responsibility to both nations' leadership towards avoiding
The Lahore Declaration signalled a major breakthrough in overcoming the
Overview
The Lahore treaty was one of the most important and historical treaties of India and Pakistan to normalise the relations to ease up the military tensions in South Asia. In 1972, the
In 1988, Pakistan and India reached an important understanding towards controlling the nuclear weapons, and signed the
Negotiations
In 1998, the Foreign ministries of both countries had been initiating peace process to ease up the tension in the region. On 23 September 1998 both governments signed an agreement recognising the principle of building an environment of peace and security and resolving all bilateral conflicts, which became the basis of the Lahore Declaration.
Before the arrival of Indian Prime Minister, a warm welcome awaited Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee when he arrived at Wagah by the inaugural bus service between New Delhi and Lahore.
Drafting and Signatures
The Lahore declaration is one notable treaty after the 1988
The MoU reiterated the determination of both countries to implementing the Simla Agreement in letter and spirit; and that an environment of peace and security is in the national interest of both countries and that resolution of all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, is essential for this purpose.[6] The parliaments of both countries quickly ratified and acceded the treaties following the signatures.[6]
Content
The Lahore Declaration was signed on 21 February along with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) after three rounds of talks between the Indian and Pakistani leaders.[1][7] In its content, both governments asserted their commitment to the vision of peace, stability and mutual progress and their full commitment to the Simla Agreement and the UN Charter. Both governments recognised through the Lahore Declaration that the development of nuclear weapons brought added responsibility to both nations towards avoiding conflict and promoted the importance of Confidence-building measures, especially to avoid accidental and unauthorised use of nuclear weapons.[1][7] India and Pakistan also decided to give each other advance notification of ballistic missile flight tests and accidental or unexplained use of nuclear weapons to avoid the outbreak of a nuclear conflict.[7] Its important inter alia stated:
- Recognizes that the nuclear dimension of the security environment of the two countries adds to their responsibility for avoidance of conflict between them.[8]
- Commits both to the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, and the universally accepted principles of peaceful co-existence.[8]
- Commits both countries to the objectives of universal nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation.[8]
The Lahore Declaration and the MoU incorporated a joint commitment to intensify efforts to resolve the
In the joint statement issued after the conclusion of the summit, both governments said that their
Public debates and Reactions
Pakistan public and media opinion
The Lahore treaty was very popular in Pakistan's
However, it was speculated in the Indian news media that many in
Indian public and media opinion
The Lahore Declaration was hailed warmly in India and in the global media and by governments of other nations, forging optimism after the global tensions over the 1998 nuclear tests.[5] The initiative bolstered the popularity of the Vajpayee government in India, cementing his standing as a statesman.[5]
Aftermath and status
The relations between the two nations were completely transformed at the outbreak of the
The conflict was followed by an
References
- ^ a b c d e f The Lahore Declaration
- ^ Shakti tests
- ^ Hasan Akhtar (13 February 1999). "Nawaz-Vajpayee agenda includes Kashmir, N-issue". Dawn Wire Services, 13 1999. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Ashraf Mumtaz (19 February 1999). "Vajpayee arrives today: Open-ended agenda for summit". Dawn Wire Service 1999. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ a b c d Vajpayee drives across the border into Pakistan and history
- ^ a b c d e f g h Lahore Declaration. "Lahore Declaration". Governments of India and Pakistan. Much Thanks to NTI for providing the text. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ a b c Vajpayee, Sharief sign Lahore Declaration
- ^ a b c Press. "Lahore Declaration Text" (PDF). Governments of India and Pakistan. Thanks much to CNS. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Staff (1 June 2003). "The Lahore Declaration". Story of Pakistan (Ateam Developments). Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ Tribune India
- ^ Pakistani military chiefs boycott welcome
- ^ a b Kargil War; Blasting Peace Archived 22 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c Musharraf Vs. Sharif: Who's Lying? Archived 11 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine