India upholds the policy of “no first use” of atomic weapons against nuclear-weapon states and of non-use against non-nuclear-weapon states, including while supporting global efforts to strengthen the non-proliferation order, said the foreign secretary. Harsh Shringla.
Shringla made the remarks while representing India in a high-level plenary meeting to mark the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on Friday.
Reiterating India’s longstanding commitment to universal, verifiable and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament leading to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, he said: “We believe that nuclear disarmament can be achieved through a step-by-step process backed by a commitment universal and an agreed multilateral framework. ”
Developing the country’s nuclear doctrine, he said: “India upholds the ‘do not use first’ policy against nuclear weapon states and do not use against non-nuclear weapon states. India is a key partner in global efforts towards disarmament and strengthening the non-proliferation order ”.
India, he added, remains convinced of the need for meaningful dialogue among all nuclear-weapon states to build trust and security. The country’s approach to nuclear disarmament is contained in its working document presented to the first committee of the UN General Assembly in 2006 and to the Conference on Disarmament in 2007, she said.
India’s annual resolution in the General Assembly on the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons, tabled since 1982, enjoys wide support and reaffirms that any use of nuclear weapons would be a violation of the UN Charter and a crime against humanity, Shringla said.
The country has also tabled an annual resolution in the General Assembly since 1998 on “nuclear hazard reduction” calling for urgent action to reduce the risks of the unintentional and accidental use of nuclear weapons, including “through the removal of alerts and the elimination of nuclear weapons. objectives”. he said.
India supports the start of negotiations on a “General Convention on Nuclear Weapons” at the Conference on Disarmament. “Notwithstanding the priority given to nuclear disarmament, India remains committed to the immediate start of negotiations on a Fissile Material Production Ban Treaty at the Conference on Disarmament …”, he said.
The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, told delegates gathered to commemorate the event that “the world continues to live in the shadow of a nuclear catastrophe.” Progress towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons has “stalled and runs the risk of regressing,” he warned.
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