India and Pakistan have not held significant bilateral arms control talks since 2008, constituting the longest period without such discussions since the 1980s. There are two plausible policy explanations for this. First, India and Pakistan typically discuss arms control as part of their composite security dialogue, which the two sides have not been able to properly conduct for over a decade and a half due to several factors, particularly the lingering issue of Kashmir. Second, there is no permanent forum dedicated to bilateral arms control talks. The existing set of important bilateral behavioral arms control agreements is subject to increasing challenges of interpretation, implementation, and application in the rapidly evolving military landscape, paired with a declining common understanding of how to strengthen the robustness of mutual deterrence.
With newly elected governments in New Delhi and Islamabad, the two countries are starting from a somewhat fresh slate and could potentially reconsider ties. This may be an opportune time then to consider creating a Bilateral Consultative Commission (BCC) on arms control. From 1988 to 2008, India and Pakistan conducted a series of behavioral arms control talks and signed multiple agreements. Both governments have the political capital and space to resume this effort. Establishing a BCC on arms control with a well-thought-out mandate would help both countries mitigate frequent and prolonged disruptions to negotiations, offering a meaningful future for arms control in South Asia.