MEA: India not bound by treaty on nuclear arms

New Delhi: India on Tuesday said it currently “can’t be a party” to any treaty banning nuclear weapons, and hence, can’t be bound by any of the obligations that may arise from it.

New Delhi has said India, along with other nations possessing nuclear weapon arsenals, “did not participate in the negotiations on a treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, which were concluded in New York on July 7”, but reiterated it “remains committed to universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament”.

India has said it “believes that the treaty in no way constitutes or contributes to the development of any customary international law”.

In a statement, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) has said, “India continues to remain committed to universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament. However, it did not participate in the negotiations on the prohibition of nuclear weapons in New York in 2017. Also, none of the other states possessing nuclear weapons participated in the negotiations.”

The MEA added: “These negotiations were conducted under UN General Assembly Rules of Procedure, pursuant to UN General Assembly Resolution 71/258 of 23 December 2016. India had abstained on this resolution and provided a detailed Explanation of Vote.

India had further expressed its position on the issue of its non-participation in these negotiations at a plenary of the conference on disarmament on 28 March 2017. So, New Delhi can’t be a party to the treaty, which, in no way, constitutes or contributes to the development of any customary international law.”

New Delhi added, “India reiterates its commitment to the goal of a nuclear weapon free world. In this regard, India supports the commencement of negotiations on a comprehensive Nuclear Weapons Convention in the Conference on Disarmament.