ICAN calls for immediate de-escalation of conflict between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (Nobel Peace Prize 2017) has issued the following statement from its Executive Director, Melissa Parke:

“ICAN is gravely concerned at the escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, particularly last night’s missile strikes by India on Pakistani-adminstered Kashmir and Pakistan, and Pakistan’s previous threats to use nuclear weapons.

A nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan would cause millions of immediate deaths in the region and have global consequences. As the Nature Food study by Xia, Robock et al from 2022 shows, even a "limited" nuclear war between the two countries could trigger a nuclear winter, drastically disrupting global agriculture leading to famine that could kill up to two billion people. No country would be spared. No government can protect its people from the consequences.

This is exactly why nuclear weapons must be eliminated. ICAN calls on both governments to show restraint and de-escalate, and calls on the international community to redouble efforts toward disarmament through the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The only way to guarantee these weapons are never used is to ban and eliminate them.”