London: India today advocated a new global,
verifiable nuclear disarmament framework which includes
"no-first-use" of atomic weapons and "non-use" against
non-nuclear weapon states.
Speaking at the International Institute of Strategic
Studies here, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao pledged India's
long-standing commitment to global, non-discriminatory and
verifiable nuclear disarmament.
"We have identified some initiatives that I believe
could be explored further as building blocks of a new global,
verifiable nuclear disarmament framework. These include: a
global agreement on 'no-first-use' of nuclear-weapons and
non-use against non-nuclear weapon states," she said.
In addition, India's proposal includes measures to
reduce nuclear danger through de-alerting, reducing salience
of nuclear weapons in security doctrines and preventing
unintentional or accidental use; a Nuclear Weapons Convention
prohibiting development, production, stockpiling and use of
nuclear weapons and on their destruction etc, she said while
speaking at the 3rd MEA-IISS seminar on 'Perspectives on
Foreign Policy for a 21st Century India'.
"We feel encouraged by some recent positive steps.
President (Barack) Obama's administration has signalled US
willingness to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in its
nuclear strategy and to work towards a nuclear weapon free
world. The renewed debate underway on this issue harmonises
with our long held positions," Rao said.
PTI
First Published: Monday, February 22, 2010, 23:27