Daijiworld Media Network - New York
New York, Oct 20: India has reiterated its willingness to convert its commitment to not be the first to use nuclear weapons and not to use them against non-nuclear-weapon states into a multilateral legally binding agreement.
Congress MP Manish Tewari, representing India at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) First Committee in New York, delivered the country's statement on nuclear weapons and related issues on Monday (local time), outlining India's approach to global nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and reducing nuclear risks.
“India remains committed to nuclear disarmament that is universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable. This goal can be achieved by a step-by-step process underwritten by universal commitment to an agreed non-discriminatory multilateral framework,” Tewari said.
He noted that India had presented this approach in a working paper to the First Committee in 2006 and again in 2007 at the Conference on Disarmament through document CD/1816.
Emphasising the continued relevance of the proposal, he said, “The relevance of this approach endures.”
Highlighting India's position as a responsible nuclear-weapon state, Tewari said the country continued to follow a policy of “credible minimum deterrence with a posture of No First Use and non-use against non-nuclear weapon states”.
“We are prepared to convert these undertakings into multilateral legal arrangements,” he said, reiterating India's willingness to formalise its commitments through legally binding multilateral mechanisms.
“I wish to underline that India's capabilities are shaped by our unique security environment and are not directed against any specific actor. India also remains committed to its voluntary unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing,” he added.
“India believes that legally binding assurances to non-nuclear-weapon states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons should alleviate their sense of insecurity and thereby strengthen the non-proliferation regime. This would contribute to reducing the nuclear danger,” Tewari said.
Among nuclear-armed countries, India and China are the only two that have declared a No First Use policy.
Addressing emerging technological challenges, India also acknowledged concerns over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in nuclear command and control systems.
“We espouse the principle that the decisions to use nuclear weapons should be taken by humans. India traditionally tables two resolutions under this cluster -- the resolution on reducing nuclear danger tabled by India since 1998 draws attention to the hair-triggered alert status of nuclear weapons and calls for de-alerting and de-targeting to reduce the risk of unintentional or accidental use,” Tewari said.
He also highlighted India's longstanding initiative for a convention prohibiting the use of nuclear weapons. Introduced by India in 1992, the resolution calls upon the Conference on Disarmament to begin negotiations on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.
“Such a universal legally binding agreement will build the political will needed for the total elimination of nuclear weapons. We look forward to the continued support and co-sponsorship of member states for both resolutions. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons does not create obligations for India. Our commitment to global nuclear disarmament nonetheless remains unchanged, as does our commitment to strengthening non-proliferation,” he added.
India also reiterated its commitment to international cooperation to prevent nuclear materials and technologies from falling into the hands of terrorists and other non-state actors.
Tewari, who represents Chandigarh in the Lok Sabha, is part of the second contingent of MPs joining India's delegation to the United Nations.