The Lahore
Declaration
Date:
February 21, 1999
Place: Lahore, Pakistan
The following is the text
of the Lahore Declaration signed by the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B.
Vajpayee, and the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif, in Lahore
on Sunday:
The Prime Ministers of the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan:
Sharing a vision of
peace and stability between their countries, and of progress and
prosperity for their peoples;
Convinced that
durable peace and development of harmonious relations and friendly
cooperation will serve the vital interests of the peoples of the two
countries, enabling them to devote their energies for a better future;
Recognising that
the nuclear dimension of the security environment of the two countries
adds to their responsibility for avoidance of conflict between the two
countries;
Committed to the
principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, and the
universally accepted principles of peaceful co- existence;
Reiterating the
determination of both countries to implementing the Simla Agreement in
letter and spirit;
Committed to the
objective of universal nuclear disarmament and non-proliferartion;
Convinced of the
importance of mutually agreed confidence building measures for improving
the security environment;
Recalling their
agreement of 23rd September, 1998, that an environment of peace and
security is in the supreme national interest of both sides and that the
resolution of all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, is
essential for this purpose;
Have agreed that their
respective Governments:
-
shall intensify their
efforts to resolve all issues, including the issue of Jammu and
Kashmir.
-
shall refrain from
intervention and interference in each other's internal affairs.
-
shall intensify their
composite and integrated dialogue process for an early and positive
outcome of the agreed bilateral agenda.
-
shall take immediate
steps for reducing the risk of accidental or unauthorised use of
nuclear weapons and discuss concepts and doctrines with a view to
elaborating measures for confidence building in the nuclear and
conventional fields, aimed at prevention of conflict.
-
reaffirm their
commitment to the goals and objectives of SAARC and to concert their
efforts towards the realisation of the SAARC vision for the year 2000
and beyond with a view to promoting the welfare of the peoples of
South Asia and to improve their quality of life through accelerated
economic growth, social progress and cultural development.
-
reaffirm their
condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and
their determination to combat this menace.
-
shall promote and
protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Signed at Lahore on the
21st day of February 1999.
Atal Behari Vajpayee
Prime Minister of the Republic of India
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Joint
Statement
The following is the text
of the Joint Statement issued at the end of the Prime Minister, Mr. A.
B. Vajpayee's visit to Lahore:
In response to an
invitation by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif,
the Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, visited Pakistan
from 20-21 February, 1999, on the inaugural run of the Delhi-Lahore bus
service.
2. The Prime Minister of
Pakistan received the Indian Prime Minister at the Wagah border on 20th
February 1999. A banquet in honour of the Indian Prime Minister and his
delegation was hosted by the Prime Minister of Pakistan at Lahore Fort,
on the same evening. Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, visited Minar-e-
Pakistan, Mausoleum of Allama Iqabal, Gurudawara Dera Sahib and Samadhi
of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. On 21st February, a civic reception was held
in honour of the visiting Prime Minister at the Governor's House.
3. The two leaders held
discussions on the entire range of bilateral relations, regional
cooperation within SAARC, and issues of international concern. They
decided that:
(a) The two Foreign
Ministers will meet periodically to discuss all issues of mutual
concern, including nuclear related issues.
(b) The two sides shall
undertake consultations on WTO related issues with a view to
coordinating their respective positions.
(c) The two sides shall
determine areas of cooperation in Information Technology, in
particular for tackling the problems of Y2K.
(d) The two sides will
hold consultations with a view to further liberalising the visa and
travel regime.
(e) The two sides shall
appoint a two member committee at ministerial level to examine
humanitarian issues relating to Civilian detainees and missing POWs.
4. They expressed
satisfaction on the commencement of a Bus Service between Lahore and New
Delhi, the release of fishermen and civilian detainees and the renewal
of contacts in the field of sports.
5. Pursuant to the
directive given by the two Prime Ministers, the Foreign Secretaries of
Pakistan and India signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 21st February
1999, identifying measures aimed at promoting an environment of peace
and security between the two countries.
6. The two Prime Ministers
signed the Lahore Declaration embodying their shared vision of peace and
stability between their countries and of progress and prosperity for
their peoples.
7. Prime Minister, Atal
Behari Vajpayee extended an invitation to Prime Minister, Muhammad Nawaz
Sharif, to visit India on mutually convenient dates.
8. Prime Minister, Atal
Behari Vajpayee, thanked Prime Minister, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, for the
warm welcome and gracious hospitality extended to him and members of his
delegation and for the excellent arrangements made for his visit.
Lahore,
February 21, 1999.
Memorandum of Understanding
The following is the text
of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Foreign Secretary, Mr.
K. Raghunath, and the Pakistan Foreign Secretary, Mr. Shamshad Ahmad, in
Lahore on Sunday:
The Foreign Secretaries of
India and Pakistan:-
Reaffirming the continued
commitment of their respective governments to the principles and
purposes of the U.N. Charter;
Reiterating the
determination of both countries to implementing the Shimla Agreement in
letter and spirit;
Guided by the agreement
between their Prime Ministers of 23rd September 1998 that an environment
of peace and security is in the supreme national interest of both sides
and that resolution of all outstanding issues, including Jammu and
Kashmir, is essential for this purpose;
Pursuant to the directive
given by their respective Prime Ministers in Lahore, to adopt measures
for promoting a stable environment of peace, and security between the
two countries;
Have on this day, agreed
to the following:-
-
The two sides shall
engage in bilateral consultations on security concepts, and nuclear
doctrines, with a view to developing measures for confidence building
in the nuclear and coventional fields, aimed at avoidance of conflict.
-
The two sides undertake
to provide each other with advance notification in respect of
ballistic missile flight tests, and shall conclude a bilateral
agreement in this regard.
-
The two sides are fully
committed to undertaking national measures to reducing the risks of
accidential or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons under their
respective control. The two sides further undertake to notify each,
other immediately in the event of any accidential, unauthorised or
unexplained incident that could create the risk of a fallout with
adverse consequences for both sides, or an outbreak of a nuclear war
between the two countries, as well as to adopt measures aimed at
diminishing the possibility of such actions, or such incidents being
misinterpreted by the other. The two side shall identify/establish the
appropriate communication mechanism for this purpose.
-
The two sides shall
continue to abide by their respective unilateral moratorium on
conducting further nuclear test explosions unless either side, in
exercise of its national sovereignty decides that extraordinary events
have jeopardised its supreme interests.
-
The two sides shall
conclude an agreement on prevention of incidents at sea in order to
ensure safety of navigation by naval vessels, and aircraft belonging
to the two sides.
-
The two sides shall
periodically review the implementation of existing Confidence Building
Measures (CBMs) and where necessary, set up appropriate consultative
mechanisms to monitor and ensure effective implementation of these
CBMs.
-
The two sides shall
undertake a review of the existing communication links (e.g. between
the respective Directors- General, Military Operations) with a view to
upgrading and improving these links, and to provide for fail-safe and
secure communications.
-
The two sides shall
engage in bilateral consultations on security, disarmament and
non-proliferation issues within the context of negotiations on these
issues in multilateral fora.
Where required, the
technical details of the above measures will be worked out by experts of
the two sides in meetings to be held on mutually agreed dates, before
mid 1999, with a view to reaching bilateral agreements.
Done at Lahore on 21st
February 1999 in the presence of Prime Minister of India, Mr. Atal
Behari Vajpayee, and Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Muhammad Nawaz
Sharif.
(K.
Raghunath)
Foreign Secretary of the Republic of India
(Shamshad
Ahmad)
Foreign Secretary of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan