Topic: Reducing the use of Indiscriminate Weapons in Conflict
Country: Pakistan
Delegate Name: Celine Rajoulh
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Pakistan position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
Pakistan views the issue of using indiscriminate weapons in conflict as incredibly complex. There are a variety of indiscriminate weapons currently in use, including biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. The nation believes that there is a stark difference between weapons that are indiscriminate by nature and weapons that are only indiscriminate in certain circumstances. In 1960, Pakistan acceded to the Geneva Protocol, which prohibits the use of chemical and biological weapons in international armed conflicts. Furthermore, Pakistan ratified the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention in 1974 and the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1993, thus refraining from developing, manufacturing, stockpiling, or using chemical or biological weapons completely. As our actions indicate, the delegation of Pakistan is thoroughly against the use of chemical and biological weapons, and urges the other nations to follow suit and disavow the usage of these indiscriminate weapons.
Although Pakistan is not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and is not bound to its provisions, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did agree to a bilateral moratorium on further nuclear testing with India. The delegation views nuclear weapons as vital in the current global atmosphere. With tensions on the rise, Pakistan is a strong advocate for the practice of deterrence. Pakistan has had a no strike policy since 1971, but in the event of an attack or an invasion, the nation recognizes the right to use any weapon in its arsenal to defend itself. The delegation would like to see a complete nuclear disarmament to occur in the future, but certain criteria would have to be met. For instance, there would have to be a commitment by all states to complete verifiable nuclear disarmament, an elimination of discrimination in the current non-proliferation mindset, rules ensuring every state’s right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and a revitalization of the UN disarmament machinery to address international security, disarmament, and proliferation challenges.
