Policy

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has not acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Pakistan has never made a statement to articulate its view on accession to the ban convention, but has provided its views on cluster munitions. Pakistan argues that the problem with cluster munitions is not the weapon itself, but its “irresponsible use.”[1] It has recognized “serious humanitarian consequences” from the “indiscriminate use” of cluster munitions and “welcomed efforts to mitigate their negative consequences,” but views cluster munitions as legitimate weapons with military utility.[2] In 2010, Pakistan stated that it is opposed to the use of cluster munitions against civilians.[3] In 2009, a government official said that “in view of Pakistan’s security environment and legitimate defence needs, we do not support a ban on use, production, and transfer of cluster munitions due to their military utility.”[4]

Pakistan has previously expressed its preference for cluster munitions to be addressed through the framework of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) and not via “extra-UN mechanisms” such as the Oslo Process that created the Convention on Cluster Munitions.[5] In 2011, the CCW’s Fourth Review Conference failed to conclude a protocol on cluster munitions, leaving the Convention on Cluster Munitions as the sole international instrument to specifically tackle the weapons. Yet Pakistan stated in October 2013 that it still sees the CCW as providing “an ideal platform to deal with the subject of cluster munitions since it harmonizes genuine humanitarian concerns with the security imperatives of states.”[6]

Pakistan did not participate in the Oslo Process that created the Convention on Cluster Munitions and has not attended any of the regional or international diplomatic meetings related to the convention.[7]

Pakistan has however voted in favor of UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions condemning the Syrian government’s cluster munition use, including Resolution 68/182 on 18 December 2013, which expressed “outrage” at Syria’s “continued widespread and systematic gross violations of human rights…including those involving the use of…cluster munitions.”[8]

Pakistan is not party to the Mine Ban Treaty. Pakistan is party to the CCW.

Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling

Pakistan has stated several times that it has never used cluster munitions.[9]

Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) produces and offers for export M483A1 155mm artillery projectiles containing 88 M42/M46 dual-purpose improved conventional munition (DPICM) grenades.[10] The South Korean company Poongsan entered into a licensed production agreement with POF in 2004 to co-produce K-310 155mm extended-range DPICM projectiles in Pakistan at Wah Cantonment. While the ammunition is being produced for Pakistan’s army, the two firms have said they will also co-market the projectiles to export customers.[11] The Pakistani Army took delivery of the first production lots in 2008.[12]

Jane’s Information Group reports that the Pakistan Air Weapons Center produces the Programmable Submunitions Dispenser (PSD-1), which is similar to the United States (US) Rockeye cluster bomb and dispenses 225 anti-armor submunitions. Jane’s Information Group states that the Pakistan National Development Complex produces and markets the Hijara Top-Attack Submunitions Dispenser (TSD-1) cluster bomb. It lists the Pakistan Air Force as possessing BL-755 cluster bombs.[13] The US transferred 200 Rockeye cluster bombs to Pakistan at some point between 1970 and 1995.[14]

Pakistan has a longstanding export moratorium on antipersonnel landmines, but it does not have any similar measures in place to curb exports of cluster munitions.[15]

In September 2011, the London-based arms expo Defence & Security Equipment international (DSEi) permanently closed the POF stand and Pakistan’s Defence Export Promotion Organisation pavilion after promotional material was found at both locations listing cluster munitions available for sale.[16] Pakistani authorities reportedly stated that cluster munitions were not offered for sale by Pakistan at DSEi.[17] Similar concerns were raised during the 2009 DSEi arms fair, when POF was found to be advertising the 155mm extended range (base bleed) DPICM cluster munition.[18]

In 2011, Human Rights Watch urged Pakistan to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions and, as an interim step towards acceding, urged it to institute a prohibition on the transfer of cluster munitions.[19]