Cites chemical attack in Syria, but doesn’t blame Assad.
By Sujeet Rajan
UNITED NATIONS: Taking cognizance of the recent use of chemical weapons in Syria, India has advocated “an urgent need” for the international community to strengthen restraints on use of weapons of mass destruction, and in particular preventing their access to non-state actors and terrorists.
“This meeting is proof that the international community remains concerned about the catastrophic consequences of nuclear war and the lack of progress in moving toward global nuclear disarmament,” said the Minister for External Affairs, Salman Khurshid, speaking at the General Assembly, on nuclear disarmament, today.
Reminding the gathering that India has been consistent in their support of global elimination of all weapons of mass destruction since the days of its freedom struggle, Khurshid said Mahatma Gandhi regarded “the employment of the atom bomb for the wholesale destruction of men, women and children as the most diabolical use of science.”
Khurshid added: “More than six decades later, it remains our collective challenge to craft a nuclear weapon free and non-violent world order.”
Khurshid said India remains convinced that its security would be strengthened in a nuclear weapon free and non-violent world order, and progressive steps are needed to pave the way for their complete elimination.
“This conviction is based both on principle as well as pragmatism. We believe that the goal of nuclear disarmament can be achieved through a step-by-step process underwritten by a universal commitment and an agreed multilateral framework that is global and non-discriminatory,” he said.
Khurshid said India refuse to participate in an arms race, including a nuclear arms race.
“We are prepared to negotiate a global No-First-Use treaty and our proposal for a convention banning the use of nuclear weapons remains on the table,” he said. “As we see no contradiction between nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, we are also committed to working with the international community to advance our common objectives of non-proliferation, including through strong export controls and membership of the multilateral export regimes.”
Earlier in the day here, the Non-Aligned Movement, of which India is a founding member, proposed the early commencement of negotiations on nuclear disarmament. Khurshid said in his speech that India supported this call.
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