View all text of Part I [§ 2351 - § 2378d]
§ 2376. Nuclear non-proliferation policy in South Asia
(a) Findings
The Congress finds that—
(1) the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction remains one of the most serious threats to international peace and stability;
(2) South Asia, in particular, is an area where the threat of a regional nuclear exchange remains high due to continued Indo-Pakistani tensions over issues such as Kashmir;
(3) to date, United States efforts to halt proliferation in South Asia have failed;
(4) although global disarmament is a desirable goal which should be vigorously pursued, both regional and sub-regional security arrangements can serve to decrease tensions and promote non-proliferation in certain areas;
(5) thus far, there has been some success on a regional basis, such as the South Pacific Nuclear Weapons Free Zone and the Treaty of Tlatelolco in Latin America;
(6) in particular, in Latin America, the Treaty of Tlatelolco has been signed by all the nuclear powers;
(7) a critical part of this treaty is Protocol II which prohibits nuclear attacks by nuclear weapons states on signatories to the treaty;
(8) in 1991, a proposal was made for a regional conference on non-proliferation in South Asia which would include Pakistan, India, the People’s Republic of China, the Soviet Union, and the United States; and
(9) thus far, Pakistan, China, Russia, and the United States have expressed interest in attending such a conference, whereas India has refused to attend.
(b) Policy
(Pub. L. 87–195, pt. III, § 620F, as added Pub. L. 102–391, title V, § 585(a), Oct. 6, 1992, 106 Stat. 1688; amended Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, subdiv. B, title XXII, § 2219(b), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–817; Pub. L. 113–188, title XIV, § 1401, Nov. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 2023.)