Nuclear disarmament can be achieved through 'universal commitment,' says India in report to UNGA

United Nations: India has said the goal of nuclear disarmament can be achieved through a step-by-step process underwritten by a “universal commitment” and an agreed multilateral framework that is global and non-discriminatory. [caption id=“attachment_4093005” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Getty Images[/caption] In a written submission to the UN General Assembly, India has underscored the need for “a meaningful dialogue” among all nuclear weapons countries to build trust and confidence. It also calls for reducing the salience of nuclear weapons in international affairs and security doctrines. India’s submission made in May is part of a UN report made public on Thursday. It also includes submissions of several other countries. In its submission, India said it is convinced that the goal of nuclear disarmament can be achieved by a step-by-step process “underwritten by a universal commitment” and an agreed multilateral framework that is global and non-discriminatory. Nuclear disarmament refers to both the act of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons and to the end state of a nuclear-weapons-free world, in which nuclear weapons are completely eliminated. India said it has consistently supported negotiation in the Conference on Disarmament of a comprehensive nuclear weapons convention to prohibit their possession, development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, and use or threat of use. It has also separately reiterated its readiness to negotiate a convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons. In its submission, India reiterated its recommendations of several specific steps to achieve the goal of nuclear disarmament. Prominent recommendations include unequivocal commitment of all nuclear-weapon states to the goal of complete elimination of nuclear weapons and reduction of the importance of nuclear weapons in the security doctrines. India seeks measures by nuclear-weapon states to reduce nuclear danger and calls for negotiation of a global agreement among nuclear weapon states on “no-first-use” of nuclear-weapons. It has suggested negotiation of a universal and legally binding agreement on non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states. Among other things India favours negotiation of a convention on the complete prohibition of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.