Indian premier asks for global nuclear disarmament

Indian prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh has said that India will favour nuclear disarmament provided it is universal and non-discriminatory. Noting that issues related to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation had once again cropped up, Dr Singh asserted that any approach towards disarmament cannot be made applicable only for a few countries.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh meeting the Army Commanders, at the Combined Commanders' Conference of the Armed Forces

"We welcome this, because India was a pioneer in the campaign for a nuclear weapons-free world," he said. "We, however, have to ensure that discriminatory standards and approaches are not perpetuated. As a responsible nuclear weapons state, we wish to see nuclear disarmament that is global, non-discriminatory and universal in nature."

Dr Singh was addressing a conference of top commanders of the three defence services here.

Favouring non-discriminatory universal nuclear disarmament, Singh said India is ready to negotiate the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) which is multilateral, non-discriminatory and verifiable.

"We are ready to negotiate a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty which is multilateral, non-discriminatory and verifiable," Singh said while noting that "as a responsible nuclear weapon state, we wish to see nuclear disarmament that is global, non-discriminatory and universal in nature".

In his address, the prime minister said it needs to be ensured that discriminatory standards and approaches in global disarmament are not perpetuated. His reference was apparently to the recent initiative undertaken by the US under the Obama Administration to push through a resolution at the United Nations Security Council seeking universal recognition of discriminatory treaties such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

India has steadfastly maintained it will not sign the NPT in its present form as it is flawed and discriminatory.