[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
[June 27, 1998]
[Pages 1077-1078]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Joint Statement on South Asia
June 27, 1998

Introduction

    Recent nuclear tests by India and Pakistan, and the resulting 
increase in tension between them, are a source of deep and lasting 
concern to both of us. Our shared interests in a peaceful and stable 
South Asia and in a strong global nonproliferation regime have been put 
at risk by these tests, which we have joined in condemning. We have 
agreed to continue to work closely together, within the P-5, the 
Security Council and with others, to prevent an accelerating nuclear and 
missile arms race in South Asia, strengthen international 
nonproliferation efforts, and promote reconciliation and the peaceful 
resolution of differences between India and Pakistan.

Preventing a Nuclear and Missile Race in South Asia

    The P-5 Joint Communique of June 4, which was endorsed by UN 
Security Council Resolution 1172, sets out clear and comprehensive 
objectives and a plan for action to address the threat of South Asian 
nuclear and missile arms race. We pledge our full support for the steps 
outlined in the Joint Communique, and again call on India and Pakistan 
to stop all further nuclear tests and adhere immediately and 
unconditionally to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), to 
refrain from weaponization or deployment of nuclear weapons and from the 
testing or deployment of missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, 
and to enter into firm commitments not to weaponize or deploy nuclear 
weapons or missiles capable of delivering them.

Strengthening Global Nonproliferation Cooperation

    The United States and China remain firmly committed to strong and 
effective international cooperation on nuclear nonproliferation, with 
the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as its 
cornerstone. We will continue to bolster global nuclear nonproliferation 
efforts, and reiterate that our goal is adherence of all countries, 
including India and Pakistan, to the NPT as it stands, without any 
modification. States that do not adhere to the Treaty cannot expect to 
be accorded the same benefits and international standing as are accorded 
to NPT parties. Notwithstanding their recent nuclear tests, India and 
Pakistan do not have the status of nuclear weapons states in accordance 
with the NPT.
    We reaffirm our determination to fulfill our commitments relating to 
nuclear disarmament under Article VI of the NPT. To this end, both 
countries have signed the Comprehensive Test

[[Page 1078]]

Ban Treaty and do not intend to resume nuclear testing.
    We call for the prompt initiation and conclusion of negotiations in 
the Conference on Disarmament, on the basis of the 1995 agreed mandate, 
for a multilateral treaty banning the production of fissile material for 
nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. We urge India and 
Pakistan to participate, in a positive spirit, in such negotiations with 
other states in the Conference on Disarmament with a view to reaching 
early agreement.
    We both actively support the Strengthened Safeguards System now 
being implemented by the IAEA, and will promptly take steps to implement 
it in our countries.

Reducing Tensions and Encouraging the Peaceful Resolution of Differences 
Between India and Pakistan

    We are committed to assist where possible India and Pakistan to 
resolve peacefully the difficult and long-standing differences between 
them, including the issue of Kashmir. We welcome the resumption of 
dialogue between the two countries and encourage them to continue such 
dialogue, and we stand ready to assist in the implementation of 
confidence-building measures between them, and encourage the 
consideration of additional measures of this type.

Responsibilities of the United States and China

    The United States and China have long sought friendly relations with 
both India and Pakistan. We reaffirm this goal and our hope that we can 
jointly and individually contribute to the achievement of a peaceful, 
prosperous, and secure South Asia. As P-5 members, and as states with 
important relationships with the countries of the region, we recognize 
our responsibility to contribute actively to the maintenance of peace, 
stability and security in the region, and to do all we can to address 
the root causes of tension.
    We reaffirm that our respective policies are to prevent the export 
of equipment, materials or technology that could in any way assist 
programs in India or Pakistan for nuclear weapons or for ballistic 
missiles capable of delivering such weapons, and that to this end, we 
will strengthen our national export control systems.

Next Steps

    Close coordination between the United States and China is essential 
to building strong international support behind the goals to which we 
are committed in response to nuclear testing by India and Pakistan. We 
will stay closely in touch on this issue, and will work with other 
members of the P-5 and the Security Council, with other Asian and 
Pacific countries, and with the broader international community to 
forestall further instability in South Asia, achieve a peaceful and 
mutually acceptable resolution of differences between India and 
Pakistan, and strengthen the global nonproliferation regime.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement.