ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday emphasised continued engagement with India on strategic stability issues as New Delhi agreed to a five-year extension in the bilateral accord on accidents involving nuclear weapons.

“Pakistan and India have agreed to extend their bilateral Agreement on Reducing the Risk from Accidents Relating to Nuclear Weapons for the next five years (2017-2022),” the Foreign Office said.

This is the second extension in the agreement originally signed in 2007. The agreement is the only major nuclear-related pact signed by the two countries after the Lahore Declaration of 1999. The agreement, last extended in 2012, completed its term on Monday. Pakistan had weeks earlier proposed an extension to India. The Indian government conveyed its willingness through a note verbale.

Article 8 of the agreement provides that one of the party states can propose an extension, which will take effect after acceptance by the other side.

“In accordance with Article 8 of the agreement between the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Reducing the Risk of Accidents Relating to Nuclear Weapons, both countries have agreed to extend the agreement for a further period of five years,” the Indian External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

The agreement provides for immediate exchange of information between the two countries in the event of an accident relating to nuclear weapons, under their respective jurisdiction and control, which can create the risk of radioactive fallout, with adverse consequences for both sides, or can create the risk of an outbreak of a nuclear war.

The agreement is part of the nuclear confidence building measures that the two countries have taken and have remained intact despite prevailing tension in the bilateral relationship.

Furthermore, India and Pakistan have been regularly exchanging lists of their nuclear facilities under the 1988 Agreement on Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities. Additionally, the two have an Agreement on Pre-Notification of Flight Testing of Ballistic Missiles.

“It (the extension of the accord) is aimed at promoting a stable environment of peace and security between the two countries. It is premised on the recognition that the nuclear dimension of the security environment of the two countries adds to their responsibility for avoidance of conflict,” the FO said.

The extension of the agreement shows responsible nuclear behaviour by the two countries though their bilateral relationship is in deep freeze and the peace dialogue continues to be suspended. It further shows that both Islamabad and New Delhi recognise nuclear dangers and are willing to cooperate to reduce the risk of nuclear-related accidents and emergencies.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2017