The 2011 Conference on Disarmament began contentiously when Pakistan’s representative criticized U.S. support for full Indian membership in export control organizations that would allow it to engage in nuclear trade. This Peace Brief seeks to capture some of the areas of contention, including the Pakistani block of a fissile material cutoff treaty, and place them in the context of Pakistan’s larger strategic and security concerns vis-à-vis India.
Summary
- The 2011 Conference on Disarmament (CD) began contentiously when Ambassador Zamir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, criticized United States’ support of India’s membership in export organizations that would allow it to engage in nuclear trade.
- Pakistan believes such membership would further favor India and accentuate the asymmetry in fissile materials stockpiles of the two states.
- Strategic and security concerns drive Pakistan’s commitment to block negotiation of a fissile material cutoff treaty.
- Progress during the CD seems unlikely if the United States and Pakistan remain entrenched in their respective positions.
About this Brief
The 2011 Conference on Disarmament began contentiously when Pakistan’s representative criticized U.S. support for full Indian membership in export control organizations that would allow it to engage in nuclear trade. This Peace Brief seeks to capture some of the areas of contention, including the Pakistani block of a fissile material cutoff treaty, and place them in the context of Pakistan’s larger strategic and security concerns vis-à-vis India. The author, Brian Rose, is a program specialist with the Institute’s Nonproliferation and Arms Control Program, directed by Paul Hughes.