Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice of Military Exercises, Manoeuvers and Troop Movements

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Country/entity: India
Pakistan
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice of Military Exercises, Manoeuvers and Troop Movements
Date: 6 Apr 1991
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/interstate conflict
India-Pakistan Conflict (1947 - ) and the Pakistani Taliban (2001 - )
Two distinct contexts have generated agreements.

India-Pakistan Conflict (1947 - )
The roots of the India-Pakistan Conflict lay in the partition of the British Indian Empire following the end of World War II, and the creation of the predominately Muslim Dominion of Pakistan (now Pakistan and Bangladesh) and the Union of India in 1947. Fuelled by Hindu and Muslim nationalism, the political partition spurred the largest mass migration as minorities sought reference among their communal majorities. Retaliatory violence on both sides led to the deaths of 200,000 to 500,000 people.

A few weeks following the partition, Pakistan sent tribal militias into the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir, sparking the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947. Two other wars broke out in 1965 and in 1991, as well as a number of skirmishes over the Siachan Glacier. The conflict has seen less casualties since the announcement of a ceasefire in 2003, despite frequent violations by both sides. Public unrest remains sporadic and there has been occasional actions by Islamic militants. In addition, despite a decrease in human rights conditions by occupying forces on both sides, abuses are still documented.

Another dimension of the conflict developed in 1997, after Pakistan announced a successful nuclear test. Since then there has been a proliferation of treaties ensuring clear lines of communication in regards to nuclear testing and accidents to deter accidental escalation.

Pakistan-Afghanistan-US Conflict (2001 - )
Since the 2000s, the Afghanistan war had a noticeable spill-over effect to Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban maintain several strongholds in the western parts of Pakistan, especially in the Northwest Tribal Region. Native Islamist guerrilla outfits also remain active in the region and in 2007 they formed the umbrella organisation known as the Pakistan Taliban until it splintered into four different groups in 2014.
Stage: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Territory
Peace process: India-Pakistan border and related process
Parties: Muchkund Dubey, Foreign Secretary for the Government of the Republic of India; Shaharyar M. Khan, Foreign Secretary for the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Third parties: -
Description: -

Agreement document: IN_PK910506_Advance Notice of Military Exercises, Manoeuvers and Troop Movements, 6 April 1991.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 1, Whereas India and Pakistan recognize the need to jointly formulate an agreement at the Government level on giving advance notice on exercises, manoeuvres and troop movements in order to prevent any crisis situation arising due to misreading of the other side's intentions.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Page 1, Therefore,the Government of India and Pakistan jointly decide that:
1. Their Land, Naval and Air Forces will avoid holding major military manoeuvres and exercises in close proximity to each other. However if such exercises are held within distances as prescribed in this Agreement, the strategic direction of the main force being exercised will not be towards the other side, not will any logistics build up be carried out close to it. The following will constitute a major military manouevre/exercise for the purposes of this Agreement:
(a) Land Forces:
(1) India-Pakistan International Border:
Concentrations of Corps level (comprising two or more divisions) and above.
(2) Line of Control and the area between the Manawar Tawi and the Ravi Rivers:
Division level and above.
(b) Naval Forces. Any exercise involving six or more ships of destroyer/frigate size and above, exercising in company and crossing into the other's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
(c) Air Forces. Regional Command level and above.

Page 1-2, 2. Both sides may not conduct exercises of Land Forces at Divisional level and above within five kilometres (Kms) of the areas specified at paragraph 1 (a) (1) and (2).
3. Both sides will provide notice regarding exercises of Land Forces as follows:
(a) All exercises/concentrations at Divisional level in areas specified at paragraph 1 (a) (2).
(b) All exercises/concentrations at Corps level within a distance of seventy five kms in areas specified at paragraph 1 (a) (1) and (2).
(c) All exercises above Corps level irrespective of the distance.
4. Both sides will give fifteen days prior notice when formations with defensive roles are moved to their operational locations for periodic maintenance of defences.

Page 2, 5. The schedule of major exercises with troops will be transmitted in writing to the other side through diplomatic channels in advance as follows : -
(a) Air exercises at Regional Command level and above
- Fifteen days
(b) Divisional level exercise, and major Naval exercises involving six or more ships of destroyer/frigate size and above, exercising in company and crossing into the other’s EEZ.
- Thirty days
(c) Corps level exercises
- Sixty days
(d) Army level exercises
- Ninety days
Provided that the above provisions relate to the commencement of moves of formations and units from their permanent locations for the proposed exercises,

Page 2-3, 6. Information on the following aspects of major exercises will be intimated : -
(a) Type and level of exercise.
(b) General area of the exercise on land, air and sea. In respect of aid and sea exercises, these will be defined in latitude and longitude.
(c) Planned duration of the activity.
(d) Number and type of formations participating.

Page 3, 6. ... (e) Any shifting of forces from other Commands/Corps/Strategic formations envisaged.
(f) The move of strategic formations, particularly armoured divisions, mechanised divisions, air assault divisions/reserve infantry formations and artillery divisions/air defence artillery divisions.
Provided that in respect of major Air and Naval exercises, only the information at paragraphs (a) to (c) need be intimated.
7. In case some change in exercises area/grouping of participating formation from the previously notified composition is necessitated, the country carrying out the exercise will intimate the details of changes so as to reach the other country at least thirty days in advance in respect of Corps level exercises and above and fifteen days in advance in respect of divisional level exercises and Naval exercises. In respect of Air exercises, if minor changes to the previously notified detailed are necessitated, an advance notice of seven days will be provided.
8. Any induction/concentration of additional troops of a division size force and above, within one hundred and fifty kms of areas specified at Paragraph 1. a. (1) and (2), for internal security duties and/or in aid of civil power will be notified to the other side at least two days before the start of their movements, whenever possible. In case of immediate movements, information may be passed on Hot Line to the Army Headquarters of the other country. The force so employed will not move forward there logistic bases/installations and armour/artillery.
9. Each country will be entitled to obtain timely clarification from the country undertaking military manoeuvres/exercises concerning the assembly of formations, the extent, direction of the exercise and the duration.

Page 4, 10. The Naval shops and submarines belonging to the other country are not to close less that three Nautical Miles (NMs) from each other so as to avoid any accident while operating in international waters.
11. Combat aircraft including fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, jet military trainer and armed helicopter aircraft will not fly within ten kms of each other’s airspace, including the Air Defence Identification Zones (ADIZ), except when such aircraft are operating from Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar and Suratgarh air bases on the Indian side, as well as Pasrur, Lahore, Vehari and Rahimyar air bases on the Pakistan side, in which case they will maintain a distance of five kms from each other’s airspace.
Unarmed transport and logistics aircraft including unarmed helicopters and Air Observation Post (AOP) aircraft will be permitted to operate up to 1000 metres from each other’s airspace including the ADIZ.
12. Aircraft of either country will refrain from buzzing surface units and platforms of the other country in international waters.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Ministry of External Affairs, India; http://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/LegalTreatiesDoc/PAB1220.pdf

AGREEMENT BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN ON ADVANCE NOTICE ON MILITARY EXERCISES, MANOEUVRES AND TROOP MOVEMENTS

Whereas India and Pakistan recognise the need to jointly formulate an agreement at the Government level on giving advance notice on exercises, manoeuvres and troop movements in order to prevent any crisis situation arising due to misreading of the other side’s intentions.

Therefore, the Governments of India and Pakistan jointly decide that :

1. Their Land, Naval and Air Forces will avoid holding major military manoeuvres in close proximity to each other.

However if such exercises are held within distances as prescribed in this Agreement, the strategic direction of the main force being exercised will not be towards the other side, not will any logistics build-up be carried out close to it.

The following will constitute a major military manoeuvre/exercise for the purposes of this Agreement :

a. Land forces

(1) India-Pakistan International Border

– Concentrations of Corp level (comprising two or more divisions) and above.

(2) Line of Control and the area between the Manawar Tawi and Ravi Rivers.

– Division level and above.

b. Naval Forces.

Any exercise involving six or more ships of destroyer/frigate size and above, exercising in company and crossing into the other’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

c. Air Forces, Regional Command level and above.

2. Both sides may not conduct exercises of Land Forces at Divisional level and above within five kilometres (kms) of the areas specified at Paragraph 1.

a (1) and (2).

3. Both sides will provide notice regarding exercises of Land Force as follows :

(a) All exercises/concentrations at Divisional level in areas specified at Paragraph 1.

a. (2)

(b) All exercises/concentrations at Corps level within a distance of seventy five kms in areas specified at Paragraph 1.

a. (1) and (2).

4. Both sides will give fifteen days prior notice when formations with defensive roles are moved to their operational locations for periodic maintenance of defences.

5. The schedule of major exercises with troops will be transmitted in writing to the other side through diplomatic channels in advance as follows :

(a)Air exercises at Regional Command level and above

- Fifteen days

(b) Divisional level exercise, and major Naval

(c)

(d)

exercises involving six or more ships of destroyer/frigate size and above, exercising in company and crossing into the other’s EEZ.

- Thirty days

Corps level exercises

- Sixty days

Army level exercises

- Ninety days

Provided that the above provisions relate to the commencement of moves of formations and units from their permanent locations for the proposed exercises,

6. Information on the following aspects of major exercises will be intimated :

(a) Type and level of exercise.

(b) General area of the exercise on land, air and

sea. In respect of aid and sea exercises, these

will be defined in latitude and longitude.

(d) Number and type of formations participating.

(e) Any shifting of forces from other Commands/Corps/Strategic formations envisaged.

(f) The move of strategic formations, particularly armoured divisions, mechanised divisions, air assault divisions/reserve infantry formations and artillery divisions/air defence artillery divisions.

Provided that in respect of major Air and Naval exercises, only the information at paragraphs (a) to (c) need be intimated.

7. In case some change in exercises area/grouping of participating formation from the previously notified composition is necessitated, the country carrying out the exercise will intimate the details of changes so as to reach the other country at least thirty days in advance in respect of Corps level exercises and above and fifteen days in advance in respect of divisional level exercises and Naval exercises.

In respect of Air exercises, if minor changes to the previously notified detailed are necessitated, an advance notice of seven days will be provided.

8. Any induction/concentration of additional troops of a division size force and above, within one hundred and fifty kms of areas specified at Paragraph 1.

a. (1) and (2), for internal security duties and/or in aid of civil power will be notified to the other side at least two days before the start of their movements, whenever possible.

In case of immediate movements, information may be passed on Hot Line to the Army Headquarters of the other country.

The force so employed will not move forward there logistic bases/installations and armour/artillery.

9. Each country will be entitled to obtain timely clarification from the country undertaking military manoeuvres/exercises concerning the assembly of formations, the extent, direction of the exercise and the duration.

10. The Naval shops and submarines belonging to the other country are not to close less that three Nautical Miles (NMs) from each other so as to avoid any accident while operating in international waters.

11. Combat aircraft including fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, jet military trainer and armed helicopter aircraft will not fly within ten kms of each other’s airspace, including the Air Defence Identification Zones (ADIZ), except when such aircraft are operating from Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar and Suratgarh air bases on the Indian side, as well as Pasrur, Lahore, Vehari and Rahimyar air bases on the Pakistan side, in which case they will maintain a distance of five kms from each other’s airspace.

Unarmed transport and logistics aircraft including unarmed helicopters and Air Observation Post (AOP) aircraft will be permitted to operate up to 1000 metres from each other’s airspace including the ADIZ.

12. Aircraft of either country will refrain from buzzing surface units and platforms of the other country in international waters.

13. This Agreement supersedes all previous understandings in so far as the above points are concerned.

14. This agreement is subject to ratification.

It shall come into force with effect from the date on which the Instruments of Ratification are exchanged.

15. Done at New Delhi on this sixth days of April, 1991.

Signatures:

Muchkund Dubey, Foreign Secretary for the Government of the Republic of India

Shaharyar M. Khan, Foreign Secretary for the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan