Experts urge joint endeavours to reduce global nuclear risks
Participants stress need for conducting dialogues without preconditions
Experts and scholars working on nuclear weaponsrelated issues emphasised the importance of engagement and dialogue between stakeholders from various nuclear and non-nuclear states to reduce nuclear risks. They also called for collaborative actions and effective crisis communication to mitigate these risks.
This consensus was reached at a round-table on ‘Nuclear Responsibilities Approaches and Frameworks’ in Islamabad, which was organised jointly by the Centre for Security, Strategy and Policy Research (CSSPR) at the University of Lahore, the UK-based British American Security Information Council (BASIC), and the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) at the University of Birmingham.
During the discussion, participants argued that academics and citizens should collectively reflect on the responsibilities surrounding nuclear weapons, and that the scope of the conversation should gradually increase. They discussed the lack of an enabling environment for honest discussions between officials, academics, and other stakeholders, which is crucial for recalibrating the way in which people write and speak about nuclear weapons.
It was suggested that bringing a degree of strategic empathy to the mix would pave the way for adversaries to communicate in ways that could reduce the prospect of unremitting nuclear risks. Participants also stressed the need for creating more opportunities to expand both nuclear learning and nuclear literacy in Pakistan.
The participants also emphasised the importance of conducting dialogues without preconditions and strings attached, as these would restrict the reach and impact of the Nuclear Responsibilities Approach. This approach represents a new way of thinking about nuclear weapons policies and practices that puts responsibility at its core. It aims to shift the global conversation on nuclear weapons from blame and suspicion to finding grounds to fulfil shared responsibilities and engage in productive dialogues.