ISLAMABAD, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) — Pakistan has offered to India a bilateral arrangement on the non-testing nuclear weapons, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
Pakistan's proposal came amid tension with India over the spike in violence in the Indian-controlled Kashmir which led to accusations of interference in each other's affairs.
On Monday, Pakistan said it had formally invited India for exclusive talks on the Kashmir dispute that is seen as the main hurdle in relations. Both have fought two of their three wars since their independence in 1947.
"Once again, in the larger interest of peace and stability in the region, as also in the global context, Pakistan has indicated the possibility that the two countries may consider a bilateral arrangement, which is reflective of its policy of promoting restraint and responsibility in South Asia and its consistent support for the objectives of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty," the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said.
"The bilateral non-testing arrangement, if mutually agreed, could become binding immediately without waiting for the entry into force of the CTBT at the international level," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
He explained that while the unilateral moratoriums declared by the two countries were voluntary, legally non-binding and could be withdrawn unilaterally, a bilateral arrangement will be mutually binding and difficult to withdraw from unilaterally.
"Both countries could consider working out the details of the arrangement and mutually agreed confidence-building measures in relation to it. It could set the tone for further mutually agreed measures on restraint and avoidance of arms race in South Asia."
He said that a bilateral arrangement on non-testing will also send a positive signal to the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) countries which are discussing the non-proliferation commitments of non-NPT states in relation to the question of membership.
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