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

In November 2010, Pakistan repeated its long-held view that cluster munitions are legitimate weapons with military utility, but said it opposed the use of cluster munitions against civilians.[1] Pakistan has argued that the problem with cluster munitions is not the weapon itself, but its “irresponsible use.”[2] Previously, in February 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.”[3]

Pakistan supports efforts to tackle cluster munitions through the framework of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) and has cautioned against encouraging “extra-UN mechanisms” such as the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which it believes “should supplement and not supplant the CCW process.”[4]

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.[5] It was invited to, but did not attend, the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Vientiane, Lao PDR in November 2010. Pakistan did not participate in intersessional meetings of the convention in Geneva in June 2011.

In Pakistan, campaigners held a forum on 1 August 2010 to welcome entry into force of the Convention on Cluster Munitions and to encourage Pakistan to accede.[6]

Pakistan is not party to the Mine Ban Treaty.

Convention on Conventional Weapons

Pakistan is party to the CCW and its Protocol V on explosive remnants of war. Pakistan has been an active participant in the CCW meetings on cluster munitions in recent years. In November 2010, Pakistan supported continued CCW deliberations on cluster munitions and said it remained optimistic despite “deep differences.”[7]

Pakistan has urged CCW states to “focus on the irresponsible use and transfer of cluster munitions” and has described a transition period before key provisions take effect as essential.[8] In February 2011, Pakistan objected to 1980 as the proposed cut-off date for prohibiting cluster munitions produced before 1980, which it described as “too arbitrary.” Pakistan also called for a 15-year transition and deferral period for implementation of the proposed protocol and urged the inclusion of new text requiring the facilitation of technical, material, and other assistance for the development of cluster munitions.[9]

Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling

Pakistan has often stated that it has never used cluster munitions.[10]

Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) produces and offers for export M483A1 155mm artillery projectiles containing 88 M42/M46 dual purpose improved conventional munition (DPICM) grenades.[11] The South Korean company Poongsan entered into a licensed production agreement with POF in November 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.[12] The Pakistani army took delivery of the first production lots in April 2008.[13]

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.[14] Jane’s states that the Pakistan National Development Complex produces and markets the Hijara Top-Attack Submunitions Dispenser (TSD-1) cluster bomb.[15] It lists Pakistan’s Air Force as possessing BL-755 cluster bombs.[16] The US transferred to Pakistan 200 Rockeye cluster bombs at some point between 1970 and 1995.[17]