{"id":226,"date":"2021-03-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-29T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/?p=226"},"modified":"2022-02-17T14:56:25","modified_gmt":"2022-02-17T13:56:25","slug":"the-hcoc-and-south-asia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/the-hcoc-and-south-asia\/","title":{"rendered":"The HCoC and South Asia"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"226\" class=\"elementor elementor-226\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-dd61d96 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"dd61d96\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9d1cff7\" data-id=\"9d1cff7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2124fb41 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2124fb41\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7c561386\" data-id=\"7c561386\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f9664a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1f9664a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"868\" height=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-03-30-10_33_30-Window.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-225\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-03-30-10_33_30-Window.png 868w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-03-30-10_33_30-Window-300x107.png 300w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-03-30-10_33_30-Window-768x274.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 868px) 100vw, 868px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ee31d32 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1ee31d32\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">About the Hague Code of Conduct<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9981d4b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9981d4b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Adopted in 2002, the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCoC) is a politically binding instrument aiming to limit the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) delivery vehicles. Composed of a set of transparency and confidence-building measures, the HCoC is the only existing multilateral instrument to focus on WMD delivery vehicles. Totalling 93 subscribing states at its inception, the HCoC has now reached 143 subscribing states (April 2020).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When subscribing to the HCoC, states commit to <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">abide by a set of UN treaties and international conventions on space security<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, to send an<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> annual declaration<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> regarding ballistic missile capacities and national policy on non-proliferation and disarmament treaties and instruments; and to send<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> pre-launch notifications<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> prior to any missile or space launch. Documents are uploaded onto a dedicated online platform managed by Austria, which acts as the HCoC Immediate Central Contact (Executive Secretariat). Subscription to the HCoC is free of charge.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">While subscribing states are asked to exercise \u2018maximum restraint\u2019 in the development of ballistic capacities, it should be stressed that they are <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">proscribed neither from possessing ballistic missiles nor from pursuing space launch activities. <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In return, subscribing to the HCoC enables states to <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">gain access to information<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> shared by other subscribing states, and to <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">show their political commitment<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to non-proliferation and disarmament.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b8a1a5c\" data-id=\"b8a1a5c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c7a31e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c7a31e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">In brief<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d5f4c00 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1d5f4c00\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>India\u2019s and Pakistan\u2019s <strong>ballistic missiles are mostly designed as delivery vehicles for their nuclear weapons<\/strong>. While intrinsically linked to their national security, <strong>ballistic missiles also have regional security implications<\/strong> for South Asia.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><br \/>Non-proliferation and arms control efforts have so far been aimed at the <strong>bilateral level<\/strong>. Subscription to other instruments including the HCoC remains low in the region, although <strong>India joined the HCoC in 2016<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Given the high number of missile tests and SLV launches, the <strong>HCoC could serve to increase transparency and avoid misunderstandings<\/strong>. It demonstrates <strong>responsibility on the part of states<\/strong> sharing information and provides a <strong>forum for regional states<\/strong> to voice their concerns. The HCoC also offers a framework for <strong>peaceful space development<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d1cba3e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2d1cba3e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Authors: Lauriane H\u00e9au and Emmanuelle Maitre<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-70f05df3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"70f05df3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-727dcd\" data-id=\"727dcd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2bcb2906 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2bcb2906\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"80\" height=\"96\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/pdf-1.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3024\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3f701fbc\" data-id=\"3f701fbc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-386690a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"386690a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/THE-HCOC-AND-SOUTH-ASIAN-STATES-HCoC-Issue-Brief.pdf\">Download in English<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-hcoc\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HCoC-Issue-Brief_Lutte-contre-la-prolif\u00e9ration-des-arms-conventionelles-et-ADM.pdf\">Download in French<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-57822b47 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"57822b47\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-27a708ef\" data-id=\"27a708ef\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e2389f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9e2389f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Drivers and impacts of ballistic missile developments in South Asia<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-62f84a2a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"62f84a2a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-26daa207\" data-id=\"26daa207\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-314a9363 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"314a9363\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Today, the South Asia region<a href=\"#notes\"><strong> i<\/strong><\/a> has <strong>two active ballistic missile possessors: India and Pakistan<\/strong>.<a href=\"#notes\"><strong>ii <\/strong><\/a>The reasons which drove them to acquire ballistic capabilities are multiple, including the desire for status, the search for a capability to inflict considerable damage (especially if coupled with WMD), as well as the psychological effect associated with a potential strike.<a href=\"#notes\"><strong>iii<\/strong><\/a> In South Asia, <strong>the<\/strong> <strong>regional security context has played a major role in ballistic developments<\/strong>. For example, tensions between India and Pakistan largely have contributed to the arms build-up. India has also been concerned with the broader Asia-Pacific region, and notably China \u2013 hence its decision to develop intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capabilities. In turn, ballistic developments by both India and Pakistan play a role in the perception and definition by other regional states of their security and strategy. As a result, the <strong>risks associated with ballistic missiles are not solely confined <\/strong><strong>to India and Pakistan<\/strong>; rather, these systems also have wider regional implications.<a href=\"#notes\"><strong>iv<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ednref1\" name=\"_edn1\"><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bac223f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bac223f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-be03a11\" data-id=\"be03a11\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05f6338 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"05f6338\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"457\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-1-1024x585.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3402\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-1-1024x585.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-1-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-1-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-1.jpg 1255w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 1. Ballistic capabilities and HCoC subscription in South Asia (created with MapChart.net)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-aebf87c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"aebf87c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b89ec2d\" data-id=\"b89ec2d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e18367 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8e18367\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>India\u2019s and Pakistan\u2019s ballistic capabilities are, for a large part, linked to their nuclear deterrence strategies<\/strong>. From the 1960s onwards, alongside their acquisition of nuclear weapons (in 1974 for India and in 1998 for Pakistan), both countries began to work on ballistic technologies:<\/p>\n<p><strong>India<\/strong> <a href=\"#notes\"><strong>v<\/strong><\/a> In parallel to space research and development, India pursued several missile programmes during the 1970s and the 1980s. It successfully tested the Prithvi short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) in 1988, while at the same time developing the longer-range Agni-1. Today, the country possesses a range of short and medium-range systems, and is developing ICBMs (Agni 5 and 6). It has also embarked on the development of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and the HCoC in 2016, displaying its commitment to missile non-proliferation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pakistan<\/strong> <a href=\"#notes\"><strong>vi<\/strong><\/a> Pakistan\u2019s ballistic missile programme derived from its space research programme and began in the early 1960s. This led to the testing of the Haft-1 and Haft-2 ballistic missiles in 1989, and to the subsequent development of several intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) with the assistance of both North Korea (Nodong technology) and China (the latter also sold M-11 missiles to Pakistan).<a href=\"#notes\"><strong>vii<\/strong><\/a> Today, Pakistan has deployed a range of SRBMs, and the Ghauri and Shaheen MRBMs are identified as the preferred delivery vehicles for the country\u2019s nuclear deterrent.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ednref1\" name=\"_edn1\"><\/a><a href=\"#_ednref2\" name=\"_edn2\"><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-74985b5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"74985b5\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0e2b5f0\" data-id=\"0e2b5f0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80beeba elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"80beeba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The <strong>recent ballistic developments could further increase the mutual distrust<\/strong> that has long characterised relations between the two regional powers. India is currently developing a ballistic missile defence programme, while Pakistan is investing in Chinese-made Low-to-Medium altitude Air Defence System (LOMADS) LY 80.<a href=\"#notes\"><strong>viii\u00a0 <\/strong><\/a>Pakistan may also have acquired Multiple Independently-targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRV) capabilities,<a href=\"#notes\"><strong>ix <\/strong><\/a>while India is developing SLBMs (Sagarika, K-15\/ K-4), which might lead to missiles and nuclear warheads being coupled for the first time in the region (the air and land-based components are normally kept in a disassembled state).<a href=\"#notes\"><strong>x<\/strong><\/a> Moreover, <strong>safety, security and proliferation concerns are fuelled by the activity of non-state actors<\/strong> present in the region. The fielding of very short-range ballistic systems such as the Nasr also poses questions over the ultimate control of nuclear weapons by the political authorities.<a href=\"#_ednref1\" name=\"_edn1\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0b26756\" data-id=\"0b26756\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c2be9cb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c2be9cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"754\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3403\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-2.jpg 999w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-2-300x283.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-2-768x724.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d9d38a6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d9d38a6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8dfcc63\" data-id=\"8dfcc63\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66d7eb2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"66d7eb2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Regional support for WMD disarmament and non-proliferation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f20d2d1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f20d2d1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f4c5f7a\" data-id=\"f4c5f7a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2426d52 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2426d52\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"602\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-31-1024x771.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3411\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-31-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-31-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-31-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-31.jpg 1452w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 2. South Asian states status with regard to multilateral disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control agreements<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4e8d901\" data-id=\"4e8d901\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f522eb7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f522eb7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>WMD arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation efforts in the region have unsurprisingly been affected by regional tensions <\/strong>and the development of nuclear arsenals by India and Pakistan. In addition, <strong>political factors<\/strong> including a disagreement on the principles which underpin the global non-proliferation regime have also led some states to remain outside certain conventions. While South Asian states have overwhelmingly signed or ratified numerous key multilateral instruments (Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT)), the two main regional powers, India and Pakistan, remain outside the NPT \u2013 the cornerstone of the non-proliferation regime \u2013 and are not ready to renounce their nuclear arsenals to join the regime.<\/p>\n<p>Aside from this, <strong>the level of<\/strong> <strong>subscription to a number of instruments remains low<\/strong>, including on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which only three South Asian states ratified. Regarding UNSCR 1540, none of the regional states have submitted their National Implementation Plans, nor have the majority nominated a Point of Contact. Similarly, only half of the states in the region have signed an Additional Protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-247cb3e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"247cb3e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-75d1eef\" data-id=\"75d1eef\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74f96cb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"74f96cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"252\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-4.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3412\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-4.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-4-300x236.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6c9b775\" data-id=\"6c9b775\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-003a04b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"003a04b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>With regards to the <strong>HCoC, to date only 3 out of the 8 SAARC member states have subscribed<\/strong>. This means that the region currently has one of the lowest HCoC subscription rates. However, the signature by India in 2016 was a very welcome development, as India is a key actor in the ballistic and space domains.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, (increasing) votes in favour of the biennial United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolutions endorsing the HCoC illustrate South Asian <strong>support for its content and objectives <\/strong>(see Figure 3). Amongst the five regional non-subscribing states, four have almost always voted in favour of the resolutions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7af32db elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7af32db\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-520a8f0\" data-id=\"520a8f0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-851165d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"851165d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Pakistan remains the only state that systematically abstains<\/strong> in the votes, citing the ad-hoc negotiations of the HCoC \u2013 outside the UN framework\u00a0\u2013 and the non-inclusion of cruise missiles as well as ongoing security concerns as reasons for this vote. Moreover, regional states involved in space exploration have joined the various treaties and conventions cited in the HCoC.<\/p>\n<p><strong>India and Pakistan have also negotiated a series of bilateral confidence-building measures <\/strong>(<strong>CBMs)\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 thereby recognising their importance in the field of WMDs and their delivery vehicles. Faced with the <strong>high risk of misunderstanding surrounding the development and testing of their respective ballistic capabilities<\/strong>, they adopted the 2005 <strong>agreement on advance notification of ballistic missile tests<\/strong> (extended in 2011). The agreement calls for the provision of a 72-hour advance notice of ballistic missile flight tests, and sets clear geographic boundaries and trajectory limitations for such tests.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7a6fe6e\" data-id=\"7a6fe6e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8be93e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a8be93e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"428\" height=\"345\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-5.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3413\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-5.jpg 428w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/south-asia-5-300x242.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 428px) 100vw, 428px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 3. Votes by South Asian states at the biennial UNGA Resolutions in support of the HCoC<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-48c8069 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"48c8069\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b321af8\" data-id=\"b321af8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-783b1d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"783b1d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The HCoC as an additional tool for regional stability<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d1fe218 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d1fe218\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9988625\" data-id=\"9988625\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-864dfd7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"864dfd7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Both India and Pakistan aspire to be treated as responsible nuclear powers <\/strong>\u2013 this led New Delhi to subscribe to the HCoC. Moreover, the transparency permitted by the annual declarations and pre-launch notifications brings clarity and <strong>avoids potential miscalculations<\/strong>. It also <strong>demonstrates responsibility on the part of states developing these systems<\/strong>, especially in light of past concerns regarding the transfer of sensitive technologies. <strong>The<\/strong> <strong>HCoC is also useful for the region more broadly given the high number of missile tests and SLV launches taking place within South Asia<\/strong>. For states that do not have ballistic capabilities, joining the HCoC enables them to <strong>voice security concerns and demand accountability<\/strong> from their missile-developing neighbours. As distrust still prevails in the region, CBMs could be an effective way to impose mutual constraints and concretely limit the risk of escalation. Finally, <strong>CBMs<\/strong><strong> can lead to efficient and verifiable arms control measures in the long term<\/strong> \u2013 a welcome development to curb the regional arms race. Therefore, the HCoC \u2013 together with the other existing export control measures, UN regimes and existing bilateral initiatives \u2013 constitutes a valuable tool to enhance regional stability and to regulate deadly systems \u2013 especially when coupled with WMDs.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2da7613 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2da7613\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ac8e690\" data-id=\"ac8e690\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6513a48 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6513a48\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The HCoC and space developments<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6e163a9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6e163a9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fb55409\" data-id=\"fb55409\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54748cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"54748cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/image-6-rb7sccg7610tu80x2zcgk384qgskdosm0zypsygz9k.jpg\" title=\"image 6\" alt=\"image 6\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 4. Satellites and rocket launching sites in South Asia<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1a79ec8\" data-id=\"1a79ec8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab2b5fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ab2b5fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The HCoC also provides space development benefits. In addition to addressing ballistic missiles, the HCoC covers space launches, given that the same technologies can be used for both applications. It recognises \u2018that <strong>states should not be excluded from utilising the benefits of space for peaceful purposes\u2019<\/strong> and offers a <strong>set of principles and a framework for declaring space launches.<\/strong> This is particularly relevant for South Asia, a region with burgeoning space capabilities. India has become one of the world\u2019s biggest space powers, Pakistan wields significant space capabilities, and <strong>all states but one participate in at least one satellite operations<\/strong>. India also launched the South Asia Satellite initiative, which aims to boost telecommunication and broadcasting services, and in which most regional states participate (excluding Pakistan).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Potential applications for satellites are widespread<\/strong>, including advances in telecommunications and education, crop monitoring, infrastructure management, or support in response to natural disasters. But space development can lead to controversial activities and generate insecurity. For instance, the successful anti-satellite (ASAT) test carried out by India in March 2019 <a href=\"#notes\"><strong>xi \u00a0<\/strong><\/a>challenged the notion of peaceful uses of space and triggered international concern because any further such testing could make space a dangerous environment for a number of commercial and civilian endeavours.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-383ab14 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"383ab14\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-927bda3\" data-id=\"927bda3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9f98cb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b9f98cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In addition, a <strong>\u2019New Space\u2019 trend <\/strong>led by private entities and start-ups is emerging: it uses constellations of small satellites to develop commercial products. This growing demand for launches can become an <strong>incentive for more countries and even private companies to develop small launch systems<\/strong>. Such initiatives could create uncertainty as to the destination of the launches, which can be confused with missiles. In such a context, the HCoC has a key role to play in reducing uncertainties and confusion by providing international principles on transparency and confidence-building measures.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-76cb8bb9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"76cb8bb9\" data-element_type=\"section\" id=\"notes\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5364f8d4\" data-id=\"5364f8d4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cdb3299 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4cdb3299\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42bda2e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"42bda2e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>i<\/strong> South Asia is here understood within the perimeter of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).<\/p>\n<p><strong>ii<\/strong> Afghanistan acquired Scud-B missiles from the Soviet Union in the 1980s. However, the majority of systems is no longer possessed by Afghanistan, and it is likely that the few remaining systems are no longer operational.<\/p>\n<p><strong>iii<\/strong> Emmanuelle Maitre and Lauriane H\u00e9au, \u2018Current trends in ballistic missile proliferation\u2019, HCoC Issue Brief, September 2020.<\/p>\n<p><strong>iv<\/strong> Natasha Fernando, \u2018Ballistic missile proliferation: what should be the role of a small state,\u2019 <em>Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka<\/em>, January 2019.<\/p>\n<p><strong>v<\/strong> \u2018India \u2013 Missile\u2019, NTI, Last updated: November 2019, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nti.org\/learn\/countries\/india\/delivery-systems\/\">https:\/\/www.nti.org\/learn\/countries\/india\/delivery-systems\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>vi<\/strong> \u2018Pakistan \u2013 Missile\u2019, NTI, Last updated: November 2019, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nti.org\/learn\/countries\/pakistan\/delivery-systems\/\">https:\/\/www.nti.org\/learn\/countries\/pakistan\/delivery-systems\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>vii<\/strong> \u2018Pakistan and North Korea, Dangerous Counter-trades, <em>IISS Strategic Comments<\/em>, vol. 8, Issue 9, November 2002.<\/p>\n<p><strong>viii<\/strong> Usman Ansari, \u2018What does Pakistan need to close its air defense gaps?,\u2019 <em>Defense News<\/em>, 10 April 2019.<\/p>\n<p><strong>ix<\/strong> Missile Defense Project, \u2018Ababeel,\u2019 <em>Missile Threat<\/em>, CSIS, September 12, 2017, last modified 15 June 2018, <a href=\"https:\/\/missilethreat.csis.org\/missile\/ababeel\/\">https:\/\/missilethreat.csis.org\/missile\/ababeel\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>x<\/strong> Aqeel Akhtar, \u2018Nuclear submarines shift strategic balance of Indian Ocean,\u2019 <em>Analysis<\/em>, IISS, 29 January 2019.<\/p>\n<p><strong>xi<\/strong> Shounak Set, \u2018India\u2019s Space Power: Revisiting the Anti-Satellite Test,\u2019 <em>Carnegie India<\/em>, 6 September 2019.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India\u2019s and Pakistan\u2019s ballistic missiles are mostly designed as delivery vehicles for their nuclear weapons. While intrinsically linked to their national security, ballistic missiles also have regional security implications for South Asia. Non-proliferation and arms control efforts have so far been aimed at the bilateral level. Subscription to other instruments including the HCoC remains low in the region, although India joined the HCoC in 2016.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":225,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-issue-briefs"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The HCoC and South Asia - HCoC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/the-hcoc-and-south-asia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The HCoC and South Asia - HCoC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"India\u2019s and Pakistan\u2019s ballistic missiles are mostly designed as delivery vehicles for their nuclear weapons. While intrinsically linked to their national security, ballistic missiles also have regional security implications for South Asia. Non-proliferation and arms control efforts have so far been aimed at the bilateral level. Subscription to other instruments including the HCoC remains low in the region, although India joined the HCoC in 2016.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/the-hcoc-and-south-asia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"HCoC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-03-29T22:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-02-17T13:56:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-03-30-10_33_30-Window.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"868\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"310\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Emmanuelle Maitre\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Emmanuelle Maitre\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/the-hcoc-and-south-asia\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/the-hcoc-and-south-asia\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Emmanuelle Maitre\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/#\/schema\/person\/6bb00bbfda2c67ca09695af96b6d8b4e\"},\"headline\":\"The HCoC and South Asia\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-03-29T22:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-02-17T13:56:25+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/the-hcoc-and-south-asia\/\"},\"wordCount\":2056,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/the-hcoc-and-south-asia\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-03-30-10_33_30-Window.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Issue Briefs\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/the-hcoc-and-south-asia\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/the-hcoc-and-south-asia\/\",\"name\":\"The HCoC and South Asia - 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