India not surprised, asks US to strictly monitor aid to Pak
India's Superpower Persons
India (Bharat) Government
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| President | Pratibha Patil |
| Vice President | Hamid Ansari |
| Prime Minister | Manmohan Singh |
| Principal Sec. to the Prime Minister's Office | T. K. A. Nair |
| National Security Adviser | M. K. Narayanan |
| Dep. Chmn., Planning Commission | Montek Singh Ahluwalia |
| Minister of Agriculture | Sharad Pawar |
| Minister of Agro & Rural Industries | Mahavir Prasad |
| Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers | Ram Vilas Paswan |
| Minister of Coal | Manmohan Singh |
| Minister of Commerce & Industry | Kamal Nath |
| Minister of Communications & Information Technology | A. Raja |
| Minister of Company Affairs | Prem Chand Gupta |
| Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food, & Public Admin. | Sharad Pawar |
| Minister of Culture | Jaipal Reddy |
| Minister of Defense | A. K. Antony |
| Minister of Development of Northeastern Region | Paty Ripple Kyndiah |
| Minister of Earth Sciences | Kapil Sibal |
| Minister of Environment & Forests | Manmohan Singh |
| Minister of External Affairs | Pranab Mukherjee |
| Minister of Finance | Palaniappan Chidambaram |
| Minister of Health & Family Welfare | Anbumani Ramadoss |
| Minister of Home Affairs | Shivraj Patil |
| Minister of Human Resource Development | Arjun Singh |
| Minister of Information & Broadcasting | Priyaranjan Dasmunsi |
| Minister of Law & Justice | Hans Raj Bhardwaj |
| Minister of Local Govt. | Mani Shankar Aiyar |
| Minister of Mines | Sis Ram Ola |
| Minister of Minority Affairs | A. R. Antulay |
| Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs | Vayalar Ravi |
| Minister of Panchayati Raj | Mani Shankar Aiyar |
| Minister of Parliamentary Affairs | Priyaranjan Dasmunsi |
| Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas | Murli Deora |
| Minister of Power | Sushil Kumar Shinde |
| Minister of Railways | Laloo Prasad Yadav |
| Minister of Rural Development | Raghuvansh Prasad Singh |
| Minister of Science & Technology | Kapil Sibal |
| Minister of Shipping, Road Transport, & Highways | T. R. Baalu |
| Minister of Small-Scale Industries | Mahavir Prasad |
| Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment | Meira Kumar |
| Minister of Steel | Ram Vilas Paswan |
| Minister of Textiles | Shankersinh Vaghela |
| Minister of Tourism & Culture | Ambika Soni |
| Minister of Tribal Affairs | Paty Ripple Kyndiah |
| Minister of Urban Development | Jaipal Reddy |
| Minister of Water Resources | Saif-U-Din Soz |
| Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports | Mani Shankar Aiyar |
| Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Civil Aviation | Praful Patel |
| Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Food Processing Industries | Subodh Kant Sahay |
| Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises | Santosh Mohan Dev |
| Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Labor & Employment | Oscar Fernandes |
| Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Nonconventional Energy Sources | Vilas Muttemwar |
| Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Statistics & Program Implementation | G. K. Vasan |
| Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Urban Employment & Poverty Alleviation | Kumari Selja |
| Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Women & Child Development | Renuka Chowdhury |
| Governor, Reserve Bank of | Y. Venugopal Reddy |
| Permanent Representative to the UN, | Nirupam Sen |
Nepal
| Introduction | |
| Background: | In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist insurgency, launched in 1996, gained traction and threatened to bring down the regime, especially after a negotiated cease-fire between the Maoists and government forces broke down in August 2003. In 2001, the crown prince massacred ten members of the royal family, including the king and queen, and then took his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the prime minister and his cabinet for "incompetence" after they dissolved the parliament and were subsequently unable to hold elections because of the ongoing insurgency. |
| Geography | |
| Location: | |
| Geographic coordinates: | 28 00 N, 84 00 E |
| Map references: | |
| Area: | total: 147,181 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | slightly larger than |
| Land boundaries: | total: 2,926 km |
| Coastline: | 0 km (landlocked) |
| Maritime claims: | none (landlocked) |
| Climate: | varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south |
| Terrain: | Tarai or flat river plain of the |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m |
| Natural resources: | quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore |
| Land use: | arable land: 16.07% |
| Irrigated land: | 11,700 sq km (2003) |
| Internal Renewable Water Resources: | 210.2 cu km (1999) |
| Freshwater Withdrawal (Domestic/Industrial/Agricultural): | Total: 10.18 cu km/yr ( |
| Natural hazards: | severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons |
| Environment - current issues: | deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions |
| Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands |
| Geography - note: | landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and third tallest - on the borders with China and India respectively |
| People | |
| Population: | 28,901,790 (July 2007 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 38.3% (male 5,721,720/female 5,360,391) |
| Median age: | total: 20.5 years |
| Population growth rate: | 2.132% (2007 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 30.46 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Death rate: | 9.14 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 63.66 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 60.56 years |
| Total fertility rate: | 4.01 children born/woman (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.5% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 61,000 (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 3,100 (2003 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Nepalese (singular and plural) |
| Ethnic groups: | Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8% (2001 census) |
| Religions: | Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census) |
| Languages: | Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write |
| Government | |
| Country name: | conventional long and short form: |
| Government type: | parliamentary democracy |
| Capital: | name: |
| Administrative divisions: | 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti |
| | 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH) |
| National holiday: | in 2006, Parliament abolished the birthday of King GYANENDRA (7 July) and Constitution Day (9 November) as national holidays |
| Constitution: | |
| Legal system: | based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 30 April 2006) |
| Legislative branch: | a 330 seat Interim Parliament was formed on 15 January 2007 following the promulgation of an interim constitution |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (chief justice is appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the other judges are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Judicial Council) |
| Political parties and leaders: | Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist-Leninist or CPN/UML [Madhav Kumar NEPAL]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Pashupati Shumsher RANA] (also called Rastriya Prajantra Party or RPP); Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party or NSP - Mandal [Bhadri Prasad MANDAL]; Nepal Sadbhavana Party - Ananda Devi [Ananda DEVI]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]; Nepali Congress or NC [Girija Prasad KOIRALA, president] (reunited with splinter Nepali Congress-Democratic in September 2007); People's Front Nepal (Amik Sherchan Group); People's Front Nepal (Chitra Bahadur Ale Group); People's Front Nepal (Chitra Bahadur K.C. Group); Rastriya Janashakti Party or RJP [Surya Bahadur THAPA] (split from RPP in March 2005); Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal (merged with People's Front Nepal or PFN in 2002); United Leftist Front or UFL [C.P. MAINALI] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as PRACHANDA, chairman; Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI]; numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups |
| International organization participation: | AsDB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); note - Charge d'Affaires Kali Prasad POKHREL |
| Diplomatic representation from the | chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy J. POWELL |
| Flag description: | red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun |
| Economy | |
| Economy - overview: | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $41.18 billion (2006 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | $6.948 billion (2006 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 1.9% (2006 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | $1,500 (2006 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 38% |
| Labor force: | 11.11 million |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 76% |
| Unemployment rate: | 42% (2004 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 30.9% (2004) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.6% |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 47.2 (2004) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 8.6% (November 2006 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $1.153 billion |
| Agriculture - products: | rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat |
| Industries: | tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 2.2% (FY05/06) |
| Electricity - production: | 2.511 billion kWh (2006) |
| Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 8.5% |
| Electricity - consumption: | 1.96 billion kWh (2006) |
| Electricity - exports: | 101 million kWh (2006) |
| Electricity - imports: | 266 million kWh (2006) |
| Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 11,550 bbl/day (2006 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | NA bbl/day |
| Oil - imports: | 11,530 bbl/day (2006 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl ( |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2005 est.) |
| Exports: | $822 million f.o.b.; note - does not include unrecorded border trade with |
| Exports - commodities: | carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain |
| Exports - partners: | |
| Imports: | $2 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer |
| Imports - partners: | |
| Economic aid - recipient: | $427.9 million (2005) |
| Debt - external: | $3.07 billion (March 2006) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $NA |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $NA |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $963.5 million (2005) |
| Currency (code): | Nepalese rupee (NPR) |
| Currency code: | NPR |
| Exchange rates: | Nepalese rupees per US dollar - 72.446 (2006), 72.16 (2005), 73.674 (2004), 76.141 (2003), 77.877 (2002) |
| Fiscal year: | 16 July - 15 July |
| Communications | |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 595,800 (2006) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 1.042 million (2006) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service and mobile cellular telephone network |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2000) |
| Radios: | 840,000 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 1 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998) |
| Televisions: | 130,000 (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .np |
| Internet hosts: | 18,733 (2007) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 6 (2000) |
| Internet users: | 249,400 (2006) |
| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 47 (2007) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 10 |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 37 |
| Railways: | total: 59 km |
| Roadways: | total: 17,380 km |
| Military | |
| Military branches: | Royal Nepalese Army (includes Royal Nepalese Army Air Service); Nepalese Police Force |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 18-49: 6,107,091 |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 18-49: 4.193 million |
| Manpower reaching military service age annually: | males age 18-49: 308,031 |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.6% (2006) |
| Transnational Issues | |
| Disputes - international: | joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 square kilometer dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegal cross-border activities; approximately 106,000 Bhutanese Lhotshampas (Hindus) have been confined in refugee camps in southeastern Nepal since 1990 |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons: | refugees (country of origin): 106,248 ( |
| Illicit drugs: | illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from |
Bhutan
| Introduction | |
| Background: | In 1865, |
| Geography | |
| Location: | |
| Geographic coordinates: | 27 30 N, 90 30 E |
| Map references: | |
| Area: | total: 47,000 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | about half the size of |
| Land boundaries: | total: 1,075 km |
| Coastline: | 0 km (landlocked) |
| Maritime claims: | none (landlocked) |
| Climate: | varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in |
| Terrain: | mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m |
| Natural resources: | timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate |
| Land use: | arable land: 2.3% |
| Irrigated land: | 400 sq km (2003) |
| Internal Renewable Water Resources: | 95 cu km (1987) |
| Freshwater Withdrawal (Domestic/Industrial/Agricultural): | Total: 0.43 cu km/yr ( |
| Natural hazards: | violent storms from the |
| Environment - current issues: | soil erosion; limited access to potable water |
| Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes |
| Geography - note: | landlocked; strategic location between |
| People | |
| Population: | 2,327,849 |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 38.6% (male 465,340/female 433,184) |
| Median age: | total: 20.5 years |
| Population growth rate: | 2.082% (2007 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 33.28 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Death rate: | 12.46 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 96.37 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 55.17 years |
| Total fertility rate: | 4.67 children born/woman (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | less than 100 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) |
| Ethnic groups: | Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15% |
| Religions: | Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25% |
| Languages: | Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write |
| Government | |
| Country name: | conventional long form: |
| Government type: | absolute monarchy; special treaty relationship with |
| Capital: | name: |
| Administrative divisions: | 20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Gasa, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Tashi Yangtse, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang |
| | |
| National holiday: | National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907) |
| Constitution: | none; note - a draft constitution was unveiled in March 2005 and is expected to be adopted following the election of a new National Assembly in 2008 |
| Legal system: | based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: | each family has one vote in village-level elections |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006); note - King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK abdicated the throne on 14 December 2006 and his son immediately succeeded him |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 members elected from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35 are designated by the monarch to represent government and other secular interests; to serve three-year terms) |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch) |
| Political parties and leaders: | no legal parties |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front for Democracy (exiled) |
| International organization participation: | AsDB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) |
| Diplomatic representation in the | none; note - the Permanent Mission to the UN for Bhutan has consular jurisdiction in the US; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; FAX [1] (212) 826-2998 |
| Diplomatic representation from the | the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India) |
| Flag description: | divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side |
| Economy | |
| Economy - overview: | The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 60% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $3.503 billion (2006 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | $840.5 million (2005 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 8.8% (2005 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | $1,400 (2003 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 24.7% |
| Labor force: | NA |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 63% |
| Unemployment rate: | 2.5% (2004) |
| Population below poverty line: | 31.7% (2003) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 5.5% (2005 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $272 million |
| Public debt: | 81.4% of GDP (2004) |
| Agriculture - products: | rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs |
| Industries: | cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 9.3% (1996 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 2 billion kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 0.1% |
| Electricity - consumption: | 380 million kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - exports: | 1.5 billion kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - imports: | 20 million kWh (2005) |
| Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2004) |
| Oil - consumption: | 1,160 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | NA bbl/day |
| Oil - imports: | NA bbl/day |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl ( |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m ( |
| Exports: | $186 million f.o.b. (2005) |
| Exports - commodities: | electricity (to |
| Exports - partners: | |
| Imports: | $410 million c.i.f. (2005) |
| Imports - commodities: | fuel and lubricants, grain, aircraft, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice |
| Imports - partners: | |
| Economic aid - recipient: | $90.02 million; note - substantial aid from |
| Debt - external: | $593 million (2004) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA |
| Currency (code): | ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR) |
| Currency code: | BTN; INR |
| Exchange rates: | ngultrum per US dollar - 45.279 (2006), 44.101 (2005), 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003), 48.61 (2002) |
| Fiscal year: | 1 July - 30 June |
| Communications | |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 31,500 (2006) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 82,100 (2006) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: telecommunications facilities are poor |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 0, FM 9, shortwave 1 (2006) |
| Radios: | 37,000 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 1 (2006) |
| Televisions: | 11,000 (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .bt |
| Internet hosts: | 9,180 (2007) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | NA |
| Internet users: | 30,000 (2006) |
| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 2 (2007) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 1 |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 1 |
| Roadways: | total: 8,050 km |
| Military | |
| Military branches: | Royal |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 18-49: 483,860 |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 18-49: 314,975 |
| Manpower reaching military service age annually: | males age 18-49: 23,939 |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1% (2005 est.) |
| Transnational Issues | |
| Disputes - international: | over 100,000 Bhutanese Lhotshampas (Hindus) have been confined in seven UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees camps since 1990; Bhutan cooperates with India to expel Indian Nagaland separatists; lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a boundary alignment to resolve substantial cartographic discrepancies, the largest of which lies in Bhutan's northwest |
Pakistan
| Introduction | |
| Background: | The |
| Geography | |
| Location: | |
| Geographic coordinates: | 30 00 N, 70 00 E |
| Map references: | |
| Area: | total: 803,940 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | slightly less than twice the size of |
| Land boundaries: | total: 6,774 km |
| Coastline: | 1,046 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm |
| Climate: | mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north |
| Terrain: | flat |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: |
| Natural resources: | land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone |
| Land use: | arable land: 24.44% |
| Irrigated land: | 182,300 sq km (2003) |
| Internal Renewable Water Resources: | 233.8 cu km (2003) |
| Freshwater Withdrawal (Domestic/Industrial/Agricultural): | Total: 169.39 cu km/yr ( |
| Natural hazards: | frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August) |
| Environment - current issues: | water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification |
| Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands |
| Geography - note: | controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent |
| People | Pakistan |
| Population: | 164,741,924 (July 2007 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 36.9% (male 31,264,576/female 29,507,174) |
| Median age: | total: 20.9 years |
| Population growth rate: | 1.828% (2007 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 27.52 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Death rate: | 8 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 68.84 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 63.75 years |
| Total fertility rate: | 3.71 children born/woman (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.1% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 74,000 (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 4,900 (2003 est.) |
| Major infectious diseases: | degree of risk: high |
| Nationality: | noun: Pakistani(s) |
| Ethnic groups: | Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and their descendants) |
| Religions: | Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 3% |
| Languages: | Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski and other 8% |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write |
| Government | Pakistan |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan |
| Government type: | federal republic |
| Capital: | name: Islamabad |
| Administrative divisions: | 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindh |
| Independence: | 14 August 1947 (from UK) |
| National holiday: | Republic Day, 23 March (1956) |
| Constitution: | 12 April 1973; suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999, restored in stages in 2002; amended 31 December 2003; suspended 3 November 2007 |
| Legal system: | based on English common law with provisions to accommodate Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Pervez MUSHARRAF (since 20 June 2001) |
| Legislative branch: | bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (100 seats; members indirectly elected by provincial assemblies and the territories' representatives in the National Assembly to serve six-year terms; one half are elected every three years) and the National Assembly (342 seats; 272 members elected by popular vote; 60 seats reserved for women; 10 seats reserved for non-Muslims; to serve five-year terms) |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president); Federal Islamic or Shari'a Court |
| Political parties and leaders: | Awami National Party or ANP [Asfandyar Wali KHAN]; Balochistan National Party/Hayee Group or BNP/H [Dr. Hayee BALUCH]; Baluch National Party/Awami or BNP/A [Moheem Khan BALOCH]; Baluch National Party-Mengal or BNP/M [Sardar Ataullah MENGAL]; Jamhoori Watan Party or JWP; Jamiat-al-Hadith or JAH [Sajid MIR]; Jamiat-i-Islami or JI [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Fazlur Rehman faction or JUI/F [Fazlur REHMAN]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami ul-HAQ faction or JUI/S [Sami ul-HAQ]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan or JUP [Shah Faridul HAQ]; Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal or MMA [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Muttahida Qaumi Movement, or MQM [Altaf HUSSAIN]; National Alliance or NA [Ghulam Mustapha JATOI] (merged with PML); Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party or PkMAP [Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul QADRI]; Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group or PML/F [Pir PAGARO]; Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N [Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan Muslim League or PML [Chaudhry Shujaat HUSSAIN]; note - as of May 2004, the PML/Q changed its name to PML and absorbed the PML/J, PML/Z, and NA; Pakistan People's Party or PPP/S [Aftab Ahmed Khan SHERPAO]; Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians or PPPP [Benazir BHUTTO]; Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN]; Tehrik-i-Islami [Allama Sajid NAQVI] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | military remains most important political force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also influential |
| International organization participation: | ARF, AsDB, C (reinstated 2004), CP, ECO, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Mahmud Ali DURRANI |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON |
| Flag description: | green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam |
| Economy | Pakistan |
| Economy - overview: | Pakistan, an impoverished and underdeveloped country, has suffered from decades of internal political disputes, low levels of foreign investment, and a costly, ongoing confrontation with neighboring India. However, IMF-approved government policies, bolstered by generous foreign assistance and renewed access to global markets since 2001, have generated solid macroeconomic recovery the last five years. The government has made substantial macroeconomic reforms since 2000, most notably privatizing the banking sector. Poverty levels have decreased by 10% since 2001, and Islamabad has steadily raised development spending in recent years, including a 52% real increase in the budget allocation for development in FY07, a necessary step toward reversing the broad underdevelopment of its social sector. The fiscal deficit - the result of chronically low tax collection and increased spending, including reconstruction costs from the October 2005 earthquake - appears manageable for now. GDP growth, spurred by gains in the industrial and service sectors, remained in the 6-8% range in 2004-06. Inflation remains the biggest threat to the economy, jumping to more than 9% in 2005 before easing to 7.9% in 2006. The central bank is pursuing tighter monetary policy - raising interest rates in 2006 - while trying to preserve growth. Foreign exchange reserves are bolstered by steady worker remittances, but a growing current account deficit - driven by a widening trade gap as import growth outstrips export expansion - could draw down reserves and dampen GDP growth in the medium term. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $437.5 billion (2006 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | $124 billion (2006 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 6.6% (2006 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | $2,600 (2006 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 19.4% |
| Labor force: | 47.87 million |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 42% |
| Unemployment rate: | 6.5% plus substantial underemployment (2006 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 24% (FY05/06 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 4% |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 30.6 (2002) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 7.9% (2006 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | 20.1% of GDP (2006 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $15.93 billion |
| Public debt: | 55.1% of GDP (2006 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs |
| Industries: | textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 6% (2006 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 89.82 billion kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 68.8% |
| Electricity - consumption: | 67.06 billion kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2005) |
| Oil - production: | 63,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 324,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | NA bbl/day |
| Oil - imports: | NA bbl/day |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 358.9 million bbl (1 January 2006) |
| Natural gas - production: | 29.54 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 29.54 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2005) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 764.6 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $-6.795 billion (2006 est.) |
| Exports: | $17 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | textiles (garments, bed linen, cotton cloth, yarn), rice, leather goods, sports goods, chemicals, manufactures, carpets and rugs |
| Exports - partners: | US 21%, UAE 9%, Afghanistan 7.7%, China 5.3%, UK 5.1% (2006) |
| Imports: | $26.7 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, plastics, transportation equipment, edible oils, paper and paperboard, iron and steel, tea |
| Imports - partners: | China 13.8%, Saudi Arabia 10.5%, UAE 9.7%, US 6.5%, Japan 5.7%, Kuwait 4.7%, Germany 4.1% (2006) |
| Economic aid - recipient: | $1.666 billion (2005) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $12.82 billion (2006 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $36.24 billion (2006 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $14.67 billion (2006 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $885 million (2006 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $45.52 billion (2006) |
| Currency (code): | Pakistani rupee (PKR) |
| Currency code: | PKR |
| Exchange rates: | Pakistani rupees per US dollar - 60.35 (2006), 59.515 (2005), 58.258 (2004), 57.752 (2003), 59.724 (2002) |
| Fiscal year: | 1 July - 30 June |
| Communications | Pakistan |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 5.24 million (2006) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 63.16 million (2007) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: the telecom infrastructure is improving dramatically with foreign and domestic investments into fixed-line and mobile networks; mobile cellular subscribership has skyrocketed, approaching 50 million in late 2006, up from only about 300,000 in 2000; fiber systems are being constructed throughout the country to aid in network growth; main line availability has risen only marginally over the same period and there are still difficulties getting main line service to rural areas. |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 31, FM 68, shortwave NA (2006) |
| Radios: | 13.5 million (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 20 (5 state-run channels and 15 privately-owned satellite channels) (2006) |
| Televisions: | 3.1 million (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .pk |
| Internet hosts: | 164,067 (2007) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 30 (2000) |
| Internet users: | 12 million (2006) |
| Transportation | Pakistan |
| Airports: | 146 (2007) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 92 |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 54 |
| Heliports: | 18 (2007) |
| Pipelines: | gas 10,257 km; oil 2,001 km (2006) |
| Railways: | total: 8,163 km |
| Roadways: | total: 258,340 km |
| Merchant marine: | total: 14 ships (1000 GRT or over) 325,254 GRT/536,876 DWT |
| Ports and terminals: | Karachi, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim |
| Military | Pakistan |
| Military branches: | Army (includes National Guard), Navy (includes Marines and Maritime Security Agency), Pakistan Air Force (Pakistan Fiza'ya) (2007) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 16 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed for combat until age of 18; the Pakistani Air Force and Pakistani Navy have inducted their first female pilots and sailors (2006) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 39,028,014 |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 29,428,747 |
| Manpower reaching military service age annually: | males age 18-49: 1,969,055 |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 3.2% (2006; 3% 2007 est.) |
| Transnational Issues | Pakistan |
| Disputes - international: | various talks and confidence-building measures cautiously have begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, particularly since the October 2005 earthquake in the region; Kashmir nevertheless remains the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Pakisthan occupied Kashmir and Northern Areas); UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; India and Pakistan have maintained their 2004 cease fire in Kashmir and initiated discussions on defusing the armed stand-off in the Siachen glacier region; Pakistan protests India's fencing the highly militarized Line of Control and construction of the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, which is part of the larger dispute on water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show the Junagadh claim in India's Gujarat State; by 2005, Pakistan, with UN assistance, repatriated 2.3 million Afghan refugees leaving slightly more than a million, many of whom remain at their own choosing; Pakistan has proposed and Afghanistan protests construction of a fence and laying of mines along portions of their porous border; Pakistan has sent troops into remote tribal areas to monitor and control the border with Afghanistan and to stem terrorist or other illegal activities |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons: | refugees (country of origin): 1,084,208 (Afghanistan) |
| Illicit drugs: | opium poppy cultivation estimated to be 800 hectares in 2005 yielding a potential production of 4 metric tons of pure heroin; federal and provincial authorities continue to conduct anti-poppy campaigns that force eradication - fines and arrests will take place if the ban on poppy cultivation is not observed; key transit point for Afghan drugs, including heroin, opium, morphine, and hashish, bound for Western markets, the Gulf States, and Africa; financial crimes related to drug trafficking, terrorism, corruption, and smuggling remain problems |
123 agreement content of US
123 AGREEMENT for 40 years +
The Government of India and the Government of the United States of America, hereinafter referred to as the Parties,
RECOGNIZING the significance of civilian nuclear energy for meeting growing global energy demands in a cleaner and more efficient manner;
DESIRING to cooperate extensively in the full development and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes as a means of achieving energy security, on a stable, reliable and predictable basis;
WISHING to develop such cooperation on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit, reciprocity and with due respect for each other's nuclear programmes;
DESIRING to establish the necessary legal framework and basis for cooperation concerning peaceful uses of nuclear energy;
AFFIRMING that cooperation under this Agreement is between two States possessing advanced nuclear technology, both Parties having the same benefits and advantages, both committed to preventing WMD proliferation;
NOTING the understandings expressed in the India - U.S. Joint Statement of July 18, 2005 to enable full civil n
uclear energy cooperation with India covering aspects of the associated nuclear fuel cycle;
AFFIRMING their support for the objectives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its safeguards system, as applicable to India and the United States of America, and its importance in ensuring that international cooperation in development and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is carried out under arrangements that will not contribute to the proliferation of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices;
NOTING their respective commitments to safety and security of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, to adequate physical protection of nuclear material and effective national export controls;
MINDFUL that peaceful nuclear activities must be undertaken with a view to protecting the environment;
MINDFUL of their shared commitment to preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and
DESIROUS of strengthening the strategic partnership between them;
Have agreed on the following:
ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Agreement:
(A) "By-product material" means any radioactive material (except special fissionable material) yielded in or made radioactive by exposure to the radiation incident to the process of producing or utilizing special fissionable material. By-product material shall not be subject to safeguards or any other form of verification under this Agreement, unless it has been decided otherwise by prior mutual agreement in writing between the two Parties.
(B) "Component" means a component part of equipment, or other item so designated by agreement of the Parties.
(C) "Conversion" means any of the normal operations in the nuclear fuel cycle, preceding fuel fabrication and excluding enrichment, by which uranium is transformed from one chemical form to another - for example, from uranium hexafluoride (UF6) to uranium dioxide (UO2) or from uranium oxide to metal.
(D) "Decommissioning" means the actions taken at the end of a facility's useful life to retire the facility from service in the manner that provides adequate protection for the health and safety of the decommissioning workers and the general public, and for the environment. These actions can range from closing down the facility and a minimal removal of nuclear material coupled with continuing maintenance and surveillance, to a complete removal of residual radioactivity in excess of levels acceptable for unrestricted use of the facility and its site.
(E) "Dual-Use Item" means a nuclear related item which has a technical use in both nuclear and non-nuclear applications.
(F) "Equipment" means any equipment in nuclear operation including reactor, reactor pressure vessel, reactor fuel charging and discharging equipment, reactor control rods, reactor pressure tubes, reactor primary coolant pumps, zirconium tubing, equipment for fuel fabrication and any other item so designated by the Parties.
(G) "High enriched uranium" means uranium enriched to twenty percent or greater in the isotope 235.
(H) "Information" means any information that is not in the public domain and is transferred in any form pursuant to this Agreement and so designated and documented in hard copy or digital form by mutual agreement by the Parties that it shall be subject to this Agreement, but will cease to be information whenever the Party transferring the information or any third party legitimately releases it into the public domain.
(I) "Low enriched uranium" means uranium enriched to less than twenty percent in the isotope 235.
(J) "Major critical component" means any part or group of parts essential to the operation of a sensitive nuclear facility or heavy water production facility.
(K) "Non-nuclear material" means heavy water, or any other material suitable for use in a reactor to slow down high velocity neutrons and increase the likelihood of further fission, as may be jointly designated by the appropriate authorities of the Parties.
(L) "Nuclear material" means (1) source material and (2) special fissionable material. "Source material" means uranium containing the mixture of isotopes occurring in nature; uranium depleted in the isotope 235; thorium; any of the foregoing in the form of metal, alloy, chemical compound, or concentrate; any other material containing one or more of the foregoing in such concentration as the Board of Governors of the IAEA shall from time to time determine; and such other materials as the Board of Governors of the IAEA may determine or as may be agreed by the appropriate authorities of both Parties. "Special fissionable material" means plutonium, uranium-233, uranium enriched in the isotope 233 or 235, any substance containing one or more of the foregoing, and such other substances as the Board of Governors of the IAEA may determine or as may be agreed by the appropriate authorities of both Parties. "Special fissionable material" does not include "source material". Any determination by the Board of Governors of the IAEA under Article XX of that Agency's Statute or otherwise that amends the list of materials considered to be "source material" or "special fissionable material" shall only have effect under this Agreement when both Parties to this Agreement have informed each other in writing that they accept such amendment.
(M) "Peaceful purposes" include the use of information, nuclear material, equipment or components in such fields as research, power generation, medicine, agriculture and industry, but do not include use in, research on, or development of any nuclear explosive device or any other military purpose. Provision of power for a military base drawn from any power network, production of radioisotopes to be used for medical purposes in military environment for diagnostics, therapy and sterility assurance, and other similar purposes as may be mutually agreed by the Parties shall not be regarded as military purpose.
(N) "Person" means any individual or any entity subject to the territorial jurisdiction of either Party but does not include the Parties.
(O) "Reactor" means any apparatus, other than a nuclear weapon or other nuclear explosive device, in which a self-sustaining fission chain reaction is maintained by utilizing uranium, plutonium, or thorium or any combination thereof.
(P) "Sensitive nuclear facility" means any facility designed or used primarily for uranium enrichment, reprocessing of nuclear fuel, or fabrication of nuclear fuel containing plutonium.
(Q) "Sensitive nuclear technology" means any information that is not in the public domain and that is important to the design, construction, fabrication, operation, or maintenance of any sensitive nuclear facility, or other such information that may be so designated by agreement of the Parties.
ARTICLE 2 - SCOPE OF COOPERATION
1. The Parties shall cooperate in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Each Party shall implement this Agreement in accordance with its respective applicable treaties, national laws, regulations, and license requirements concerning the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
2. The purpose of the Agreement being to enable full civil nuclear energy cooperation between the Parties, the Parties may pursue cooperation in all relevant areas to include, but not limited to, the following:
a. Advanced nuclear energy research and development in such areas as may be agreed between the Parties;
b. Nuclear safety matters of mutual interest and competence, as set out in Article 3;
c. Facilitation of exchange of scientists for visits, meetings, symposia and collaborative research;
d. Full civil nuclear cooperation activities covering nuclear reactors and aspects of the associated nuclear fuel cycleincluding technology transfer on an industrial or commercial scale between the Parties or authorized persons;
e. Development of a strategic reserve of nuclear fuel to guard against any disruption of supply over the lifetime of India's reactors;
f. Advanced research and development in nuclear sciences including but not limited to biological research, medicine, agriculture and industry, environment and climate change;
g. Supply between the Parties, whether for use by or for the benefit of the Parties or third countries, of nuclear material;
h. Alteration in form or content of nuclear material as provided for in Article 6;
i. Supply between the Parties of equipment, whether for use by or for the benefit of the Parties or third countries;
j. Controlled thermonuclear fusion including in multilateral projects; and
k. Other areas of mutual interest as may be agreed by the Parties.
3. Transfer of nuclear material, non-nuclear material, equipment, components and information under this Agreement may be undertaken directly between the Parties or through authorized persons. Such transfers shall be subject to this Agreement and to such additional terms and conditions as may be agreed by the Parties. Nuclear material, non-nuclear material, equipment, components and information transferred from the territory of one Party to the territory of the other Party, whether directly or through a third country, will be regarded as having been transferred pursuant to this Agreement only upon confirmation, by the appropriate authority of the recipient Party to the appropriate authority of the supplier Party that such items both will be subject to the Agreement and have been received by the recipient Party.
4. The Parties affirm that the purpose of this Agreement is to provide for peaceful nuclear cooperation and not to affect the unsafeguarded nuclear activities of either Party. Accordingly, nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted as affecting the rights of the Parties to use for their own purposes nuclear material, non-nuclear material, equipment, components, information or technology produced, acquired or developed by them independent of any nuclear material, non-nuclear material, equipment, components, information or technology transferred to them pursuant to this Agreement. This Agreement shall be implemented in a manner so as not to hinder or otherwise interfere with any other activities involving the use of nuclear material, non-nuclear material, equipment, components, information or technology and military nuclear facilities produced, acquired or developed by them independent of this Agreement for their own purposes.
ARTICLE 3 - TRANSFER OF INFORMATION
1. Information concerning the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes may be transferred between the Parties. Transfers of information may be accomplished through reports, data banks and computer programs and any other means mutually agreed to by the Parties. Fields that may be covered include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
a. Research, development, design, construction, operation, maintenance and use of reactors, reactor experiments, and decommissioning;
b. The use of nuclear material in physical, chemical, radiological and biological research, medicine, agriculture and industry;
c. Fuel cycle activities to meet future world-wide civil nuclear energy needs, including multilateral approaches to which they are parties for ensuring nuclear fuel supply and appropriate techniques for management of nuclear wastes;
d. Advanced research and development in nuclear science and technology;
e. Health, safety, and environmental considerations related to the foregoing;
f. Assessments of the role nuclear power may play in national energy plans;
g. Codes, regulations and standards for the nuclear industry;
h. Research on controlled thermonuclear fusion including bilateral activities and contributions toward multilateral projects such as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER); and
i. Any other field mutually agreed to by the Parties.
2. Cooperation pursuant to this Article may include, but is not limited to, training, exchange of personnel, meetings, exchange of samples, materials and instruments for experimental purposes and a balanced participation in joint studies and projects.
3. This Agreement does not require the transfer of any information regarding matters outside the scope of this Agreement, or information that the Parties are not permitted under their respective treaties, national laws, or regulations to transfer.
4. Restricted Data, as defined by each Party, shall not be transferred under this Agreement.
ARTICLE 4 - NUCLEAR TRADE
1. The Parties shall facilitate nuclear trade between themselves in the mutual interests of their respective industry, utilities and consumers and also, where appropriate, trade between third countries and either Party of items obligated to the other Party. The Parties recognize that reliability of supplies is essential to ensure smooth and uninterrupted operation of nuclear facilities and that industry in both the Parties needs continuing reassurance that deliveries can be made on time in order to plan for the efficient operation of nuclear installations.
2. Authorizations, including export and import licenses as well as authorizations or consents to third parties, relating to trade, industrial operations or nuclear material movement should be consistent with the sound and efficient administration of this Agreement and should not be used to restrict trade. It is further agreed that if the relevant authority of the concerned Party considers that an application cannot be processed within a twomonth period it shall immediately, upon request, provide reasoned information to the submitting Party. In the event of a refusal to authorize an application or a delay exceeding four months from the date of the first application the Party of the submitting persons or undertakings may call for urgent consultations under Article 13 of this Agreement, which shall take place at the earliest opportunity and in any case not later than 30 days after such a request.
ARTICLE 5 - TRANSFER OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL, NON-NUCLEAR MATERIAL, EQUIPMENT, COMPONENTS AND RELATED TECHNOLOGY
1. Nuclear material, non-nuclear material, equipment and components may be transferred for applications consistent with this Agreement. Any special fissionable material transferred under this Agreement shall be low enriched uranium, except as provided in paragraph 5.
2. Sensitive nuclear technology, heavy water production technology, sensitive nuclear facilities, heavy water production facilities and major critical components of such facilities may be transferred under this Agreement pursuant to an amendment to this Agreement. Transfers of dual-use items that could be used in enrichment, reprocessing or heavy water production facilities will be subject to the Parties' respective applicable laws, regulations and license policies.
3. Natural or low enriched uranium may be transferred for use as fuel in reactor experiments and in reactors, for conversion or fabrication, or for such other purposes as may be agreed to by the Parties.
4. The quantity of nuclear material transferred under this Agreement shall be consistent with any of the following purposes: use in reactor experiments or the loading of reactors, the efficient and continuous conduct of such reactor experiments or operation of reactors for their lifetime, use as samples, standards, detectors, and targets, and the accomplishment of other purposes as may be agreed by the Parties.
5. Small quantities of special fissionable material may be transferred for use as samples, standards, detectors, and targets, and for such other purposes as the Parties may agree.
6.
(a) The United States has conveyed its commitment to the reliable supply of fuel to India. Consistent with the July 18, 2005, Joint Statement, the United States has also reaffirmed its assurance to create the necessary conditions for India to have assured and full access to fuel for its reactors. As part of its implementation of the July 18, 2005, Joint Statement the United States is committed to seeking agreement from the U.S. Congress to amend its domestic laws and to work with friends and allies to adjust the practices of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to create the necessary conditions for India to obtain full access to the international fuel market, including reliable, uninterrupted and continual access to fuel supplies from firms in several nations.
(b) To further guard against any disruption of fuel supplies, the United States is prepared to take the following additional steps:
i) The United States is willing to incorporate assurances regarding fuel supply in the bilateral U.S.-India agreement on peaceful uses of nuclear energy under Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, which would be submitted to the U.S. Congress.
ii) The United States will join India in seeking to negotiate with the IAEA an India-specific fuel supply agreement.
iii) The United States will support an Indian effort to develop a strategic reserve of nuclear fuel to guard against any disruption of supply over the lifetime of India's reactors.
iv) If despite these arrangements, a disruption of fuel supplies to India occurs, the United States and India would jointly convene a group of friendly supplier countries to include countries such as Russia, France and the United Kingdom to pursue such measures as would restore fuel supply to India.
(c) In light of the above understandings with the United States, an India-specific safeguards agreement will be negotiated between India and the IAEA providing for safeguards to guard against withdrawal of safeguarded nuclear material from civilian use at any time as well as providing for corrective measures that India may take to ensure uninterrupted operation of its civilian nuclear reactors in the event of disruption of foreign fuel supplies. Taking this into account, India will place its civilian nuclear facilities under India-specific safeguards in perpetuity and negotiate an appropriate safeguards agreement to this end with the IAEA.
ARTICLE 6 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE ACTIVITIES
In keeping with their commitment to full civil nuclear cooperation, both Parties, as they do with other states with advanced nuclear technology, may carry out the following nuclear fuel cycle activities:
i) Within the territorial jurisdiction of either Party, enrichment up to twenty percent in the isotope 235 of uranium transferred pursuant to this Agreement, as well as of uranium used in or produced through the use of equipment so transferred, may be carried out.
ii) Irradiation within the territorial jurisdiction of either Party of plutonium, uranium-233, high enriched uranium and irradiated nuclear material transferred pursuant to this Agreement or used in or produced through the use of non-nuclear material, nuclear material or equipment so transferred may be carried out.
iii) With a view to implementing full civil nuclear cooperation as envisioned in the Joint Statement of the Parties of July 18, 2005, the Parties grant each other consent to reprocess or otherwise alter in form or content nuclear material transferred pursuant to this Agreement and nuclear material and by-product material used in or produced through the use of nuclear material, non-nuclear material, or equipment so transferred. To bring these rights into effect, India will establish a new national reprocessing facility dedicated to reprocessing safeguarded nuclear material under IAEA safeguards and the Parties will agree on arrangements and procedures under which such reprocessing or other alteration in form or content will take place in this new facility. Consultations on arrangements and procedures will begin within six months of a request by either Party and will be concluded within one year. The Parties agree on the application of IAEA safeguards to all facilities concerned with the above activities. These arrangements and procedures shall include provisions with respect to physical protection standards set out in Article 8, storage standards set out in Article 7, and environmental protections set forth in Article 11 of this Agreement, and such other provisions as may be agreed by the Parties. Any special fissionable material that may be separated may only be utilized in national facilities under IAEA safeguards.
iv) Post-irradiation examination involving chemical dissolution or separation of irradiated nuclear material transferred pursuant to this Agreement or irradiated nuclear material used in or produced through the use of non-nuclear material, nuclear material or equipment so transferred may be carried out.
ARTICLE 7 - STORAGE AND RETRANSFERS
1. Plutonium and uranium 233 (except as either may be contained in irradiated fuel elements), and high enriched uranium, transferred pursuant to this Agreement or used in or produced through the use of material or equipment so transferred, may be stored in facilities that are at all times subject, as a minimum, to the levels of physical protection that are set out in IAEA document INFCIRC 225/REV 4 as it may be revised and accepted by the Parties. Each Party shall record such facilities on a list, made available to the other Party. A Party's list shall be held confidential if that Party so requests. Either Party may make changes to its list by notifying the other Party in writing and receiving a written acknowledgement. Such acknowledgement shall be given no later than thirty days after the receipt of the notification and shall be limited to a statement that the notification has been received. If there are grounds to believe that the provisions of this sub-Article are not being fully complied with, immediate consultations may be called for. Following upon such consultations, each Party shall ensure by means of such consultations that necessary remedial measures are taken immediately. Such measures shall be sufficient to restore the levels of physical protection referred to above at the facility in question. However, if the Party on whose territory the nuclear material in question is stored determines that such measures are not feasible, it will shift the nuclear material to another appropriate, listed facility it identifies.
2. Nuclear material, non-nuclear material, equipment, components, and information transferred pursuant to this Agreement and any special fissionable material produced through the use of nuclear material, non-nuclear material or equipment so transferred shall not be transferred or re-transferred to unauthorized persons or, unless the Parties agree, beyond the recipient Party's territorial jurisdiction.
ARTICLE 8 - PHYSICAL PROTECTION
1. Adequate physical protection shall be maintained with respect to nuclear material and equipment transferred pursuant to this Agreement and nuclear material used in or produced through the use of nuclear material, non-nuclear material or equipment so transferred.
2. To fulfill the requirement in paragraph 1, each Party shall apply measures in accordance with (i) levels of physical protection at least equivalent to the recommendations published in IAEA document INFCIRC/225/Rev.4 entitled "The Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities," and in any subsequent revisions of that document agreed to by the Parties, and (ii) the provisions of the 1980 Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and any amendments to the Convention that enter into force for both Parties.
3. The Parties will keep each other informed through diplomatic channels of those agencies or authorities having responsibility for ensuring that levels of physical protection for nuclear material in their territory or under their jurisdiction or control are adequately met and having responsibility for coordinating response and recovery operations in the event of unauthorized use or handling of material subject to this Article. The Parties will also keep each other informed through diplomatic channels of the designated points of contact within their national authorities to cooperate on matters of out-of-country transportation and other matters of mutual concern.
4. The provisions of this Article shall be implemented in such a manner as to avoid undue interference in the Parties' peaceful nuclear activities and so as to be consistent with prudent management practices required for the safe and economic conduct of their peaceful nuclear programs.
ARTICLE 9 - PEACEFUL USE
Nuclear material, equipment and components transferred pursuant to this Agreement and nuclear material and by-product materialused in or produced through the use of any nuclear material, equipment, and components so transferred shall not be used by the recipient Party for any nuclear explosive device, for research on or development of any nuclear explosive device or for any military purpose.
ARTICLE 10 - IAEA SAFEGUARDS
1. Safeguards will be maintained with respect to all nuclear materials and equipment transferred pursuant to this Agreement, and with respect to all special fissionable material used in or produced through the use of such nuclear materials and equipment, so long as the material or equipment remains under the jurisdiction or control of the cooperating Party.
2. Taking into account Article 5.6 of this Agreement, India agrees that nuclear material and equipment transferred to India by the United States of America pursuant to this Agreement and any nuclear material used in or produced through the use of nuclear material, non-nuclear material, equipment or components so transferred shall be subject to safeguards in perpetuity in accordance with the India-specific Safeguards Agreement between India and the IAEA [identifying data] and an Additional Protocol, when in force.
3. Nuclear material and equipment transferred to the United States of America pursuant to this Agreement and any nuclear material used in or produced through the use of any nuclear material, non-nuclear material, equipment, or components so transferred shall be subject to the Agreement between the United States of America and the IAEA for the application of safeguards in the United States of America, done at Vienna November 18, 1977, which entered into force on December 9, 1980, and an Additional Protocol, when in force.
4. If the IAEA decides that the application of IAEA safeguards is no longer possible, the supplier and recipient should consult and agree on appropriate verification measures.
5. Each Party shall take such measures as are necessary to maintain and facilitate the application of IAEA safeguards in its respective territory provided for under this Article.
6. Each Party shall establish and maintain a system of accounting for and control of nuclear material transferred pursuant to this Agreement and nuclear material used in or produced through the use of any material, equipment, or components so transferred. The procedures applicable to India shall be those set forth in the India-specific Safeguards Agreement referred to in Paragraph 2 of this Article.
7. Upon the request of either Party, the other Party shall report or permit the IAEA to report to the requesting Party on the status of all inventories of material subject to this Agreement.
8. The provisions of this Article shall be implemented in such a manner as to avoid hampering, delay, or undue interference in the Parties' peaceful nuclear activities and so as to be consistent with prudent management practices required for the safe and economic conduct of their peaceful nuclear programs.
ARTICLE 11 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
The Parties shall cooperate in following the best practices for minimizing the impact on the environment from any radioactive, chemical or thermal contamination arising from peaceful nuclear activities under this Agreement and in related matters of health and safety.
ARTICLE 12 - IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT
1. This Agreement shall be implemented in a manner designed:
a) to avoid hampering or delaying the nuclear activities in the territory of either Party;
b) to avoid interference in such activities;
c) to be consistent with prudent management practices required for the safe conduct of such activities; and
d) to take full account of the long term requirements of the nuclear energy programs of the Parties.
2. The provisions of this Agreement shall not be used to:
a) secure unfair commercial or industrial advantages or to restrict trade to the disadvantage of persons and undertakings of either Party or hamper their commercial or industrial interests, whether international or domestic;
b) interfere with the nuclear policy or programs for the promotion of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy including research and development; or
c) impede the free movement of nuclear material, non nuclear material and equipment supplied under this Agreement within the territory of the Parties.
3. When execution of an agreement or contract pursuant to this Agreement between Indian and United States organizations requires exchanges of experts, the Parties shall facilitate entry of the experts to their territories and their stay therein consistent with national laws, regulations and practices. When other cooperation pursuant to this Agreement requires visits of experts, the Parties shall facilitate entry of the experts to their territory and their stay therein consistent with national laws, regulations and practices.
ARTICLE 13 - CONSULTATIONS
1. The Parties undertake to consult at the request of either Party regarding the implementation of this Agreement and the development of further cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy on a stable, reliable and predictable basis. The Parties recognize that such consultations are between two States with advanced nuclear technology, which have agreed to assume the same responsibilities and practices and acquire the same benefits and advantages as other leading countries with advanced nuclear technology.
2. Each Party shall endeavor to avoid taking any action that adversely affects cooperation envisaged under Article 2 of this Agreement. If either Party at any time following the entry into force of this Agreement does not comply with the provisions of this Agreement, the Parties shall promptly hold consultations with a view to resolving the matter in a way that protects the legitimate interests of both Parties, it being understood that rights of either Party under Article 16.2 remain unaffected.
3. Consultations under this Article may be carried out by a Joint Committee specifically established for this purpose. A Joint Technical Working Group reporting to the Joint Committee will be set up to ensure the fulfillment of the requirements of the Administrative Arrangements referred to in Article 17.
ARTICLE 14 - TERMINATION AND CESSATION OF COOPERATION
1. Either Party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement prior to its expiration on one year's written notice to the other Party. A Party giving notice of termination shall provide the reasons for seeking such termination. The Agreement shall terminate one year from the date of the written notice, unless the notice has been withdrawn by the providing Party in writing prior to the date of termination.
2. Before this Agreement is terminated pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article, the Parties shall consider the relevant circumstances and promptly hold consultations, as provided in Article 13, to address the reasons cited by the Party seeking termination. The Party seeking termination has the right to cease further cooperation under this Agreement if it determines that a mutually acceptable resolution of outstanding issues has not been possible or cannot be achieved through consultations. The Parties agree to consider carefully the circumstances that may lead to termination or cessation of cooperation. They further agree to take into account whether the circumstances that may lead to termination or cessation resulted from a Party's serious concern about a changed security environment or as a response to similar actions by other States which could impact national security.
3. If a Party seeking termination cites a violation of this Agreement as the reason for notice for seeking termination, the Parties shall consider whether the action was caused inadvertently or otherwise and whether the violation could be considered as material. No violation may be considered as being material unless corresponding to the definition of material violation or breach in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. If a Party seeking termination cites a violation of an IAEA safeguards agreement as the reason for notice for seeking termination, a crucial factor will be whether the IAEA Board of Governors has made a finding of non-compliance.
4. Following the cessation of cooperation under this Agreement, either Party shall have the right to require the return by the other Party of any nuclear material, equipment, non-nuclear material or components transferred under this Agreement and any special fissionable material produced through their use. A notice by a Party that is invoking the right of return shall be delivered to the other Party on or before the date of termination of this Agreement. The notice shall contain a statement of the items subject to this Agreement as to which the Party is requesting return. Except as provided in provisions of Article 16.3, all other legal obligations pertaining to this Agreement shall cease to apply with respect to the nuclear items remaining on the territory of the Party concerned upon termination of this Agreement.
5. The two Parties recognize that exercising the right of return would have profound implications for their relations. If either Party seeks to exercise its right pursuant to paragraph 4 of this Article, it shall, prior to the removal from the territory or from the control of the other Party of any nuclear items mentioned in paragraph 4, undertake consultations with the other Party. Such consultations shall give special consideration to the importance of uninterrupted operation of nuclear reactors of the Party concerned with respect to the availability of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes as a means of achieving energy security. Both Parties shall take into account the potential negative consequences of such termination on the on-going contracts and projects initiated under this Agreement of significance for the respective nuclear programmes of either Party.
6. If either Party exercises its right of return pursuant to paragraph 4 of this Article, it shall, prior to the removal from the territory or from the control of the other Party, compensate promptly that Party for the fair market value thereof and for the costs incurred as a consequence of such removal. If the return of nuclear items is required, the Parties shall agree on methods and arrangements for the return of the items, the relevant quantity of the items to be returned, and the amount of compensation that would have to be paid by the Party exercising the right to the other Party.
7. Prior to return of nuclear items, the Parties shall satisfy themselves that full safety, radiological and physical protection measures have been ensured in accordance with their existing national regulations and that the transfers pose no unreasonable risk to either Party, countries through which the nuclear items may transit and to the global environment and are in accordance with existing international regulations.
8. The Party seeking the return of nuclear items shall ensure that the timing, methods and arrangements for return of nuclear items are in accordance with paragraphs 5, 6 and 7. Accordingly, the consultations between the Parties shall address mutual commitments as contained in Article 5.6. It is not the purpose of the provisions of this Article regarding cessation of cooperation and right of return to derogate from the rights of the Parties under Article 5.6.
9. The arrangements and procedures concluded pursuant to Article 6(iii) shall be subject to suspension by either Party in exceptional circumstances, as defined by the Parties, after consultations have been held between the Parties aimed at reaching mutually acceptable resolution of outstanding issues, while taking into account the effects of such suspension on other aspects of cooperation under this Agreement.
ARTICLE 15 - SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
Any dispute concerning the interpretation or implementation of the provisions of this Agreement shall be promptly negotiated by the Parties with a view to resolving that dispute.
ARTICLE 16 - ENTRY INTO FORCE AND DURATION
1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date on which the Parties exchange diplomatic notes informing each other that they have completed all applicable requirements for its entry into force.
2. This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of40 years. It shall continue in force thereafter for additional periods of 10 years each. Each Party may, by giving 6 months written notice to the other Party, terminate this Agreement at the end of the initial 40 year period or at the end of any subsequent 10 year period.
3. Notwithstanding the termination or expiration of this Agreement or withdrawal of a Party from this Agreement, Articles 5.6(c), 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 15 shall continue in effect so long as any nuclear material, non-nuclear material, by-product material, equipment or components subject to these articles remains in the territory of the Party concerned or under its jurisdiction or control anywhere, or until such time as the Parties agree that such nuclear material is no longer usable for any nuclear activity relevant from the point of view of safeguards.
4. This Agreement shall be implemented in good faith and in accordance with the principles of international law.
5. The Parties may consult, at the request of either Party, on possible amendments to this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended if the Parties so agree. Any amendment shall enter into force on the date on which the Parties exchange diplomatic notes informing each other that their respective internal legal procedures necessary for the entry into force have been completed.
ARTICLE 17 - ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT
1. The appropriate authorities of the Parties shall establish an Administrative Arrangement in order to provide for the effective implementation of the provisions of this Agreement.
2. The principles of fungibility and equivalence shall apply to nuclear material and non-nuclear material subject to this Agreement. Detailed provisions for applying these principles shall be set forth in the Administrative Arrangement.
3. The Administrative Arrangement established pursuant to this Article may be amended by agreement of the appropriate authorities of the Parties.
Independence! ?
who ruled our country for more than a decade & stolen valuables & properties. Used tactic "Divide & Rule".
We suffered the injustice because of colour? lack of brain? or is it because we don't have unity?
We all take an oath to ourselves to be united from now onwards to the prosperity & integrity of Our motherland. We will not pull the legs of our fellow countrymen in progress. We will never take money & other advantages from foreigners to dilute poison to our land. We will bargain our right in every fields of life.
India is the second largest populated country in the world; why India dont' have a permanent place in UN?
India has the right to be progressive & attain development, then why we sign in the restrictions; is it to please the so called world rulers?
India has the right to protect its territories by the sophisticated modern weapons, develop new weapons, then why others ban our development. Do we have the right only to buy weapons from them.
Why India signed the 123 agreement? To restrict itself down in the pen tip of foreign president?
No other country in the world is giving special rights to minority people as India does. Then why we are against common civil code?
Why some minority priests thretens to throw out Democratically elected State Government with the open help from a foreign government & the Central Government still looking helplessly?
Questions remains...