The two governments' decision reverses progress made since the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty outlawed the use of land mines in 1997. The treaty has been ratified by 122 countries around the world; neither India nor Pakistan are parties to the treaty. Both countries produce and stockpile landmines despite the halt in the international trade in Landmines after the Ottawa treaty.

Amnesty International as a member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines urges all governments to ban the use, production, stockpiling, sale, transfer or export of landmines and to sign, ratify, implement and monitor the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty.