New Delhi: India has said it was "deeply
worried" over the potential nexus between clandestine
proliferation of nuclear weapons and terrorism, and favoured
"transparent verification procedures" to prevent such
materials falling in dangerous hands.
Speaking at the 'Global Zero Summit' in Paris, PM's
Special Envoy Shyam Saran pitched for a "more urgent time
frame" for achieving nuclear disarmament.
"India is deeply worried about the potential nexus
between clandestine proliferation and terrorism and the
ever-present danger of such weapons or vulnerable nuclear
materials falling into the hands of jehadi and non-state
actors," he said addressing the summit on Wednesday.
Saran termed nuclear proliferation as a "specific threat
to India".
"However, over the long term, it is also our view that it
is only through the complete elimination of nuclear weapons
and by putting in place universally applicable, non-
discriminatory and fully transparent verification procedures,
that we can fully prevent and deny nuclear materials from
falling into dangerous hands," he said.
Welcoming the lead taken by the US and Russia in reducing
their nuclear arsenal, Saran said, "We must remain mindful of
security trends, including relating to the improvement,
accretion and deployment of strategic armaments, in the
Asia-Pacific region."
PTI
First Published: Saturday, February 06, 2010, 20:12