India says no to US proposal banning nuke tests

Article Tools
  Email this page
 
  Contact the Editors

- By Parinda News Bureau, April 18, 2006, 09:40 IST

India has rejected US proposal for a cap on its nuclear testing. India said such a provision has no place in a proposed bilateral agreement.

A draft agreement sent by the US stipulated several elements, including one that said cooperation will be discontinued if India were to detonate a nuclear explosive device.

"In preliminary discussions on these elements, India has already conveyed to the US that such a provision has no place in the proposed bilateral agreement and that India is bound only by what is contained in the July 18 Joint Statement, that is, continuing its commitment to a unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing," explained External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna.

India 's position on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is well known and continues to remain valid. New Delhi maintains that it will sign the treaty only if it is universal with all countries dismantling their nuclear arsenal.

Copyright 2005, Parinda ®, VMC Infotech. All rights reserved
Careers | Feedback | Privacy policy | Advertise with us | Terms of use