'Universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable': India calls for legally binding framework for nuclear disarmament at UN

New York: India has called for a universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable framework for nuclear disarmament at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) First Committee, stressing that decisions on the use of nuclear weapons must remain under human control amid the growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into defence systems.

Delivering India's official statement under the nuclear weapons cluster at the UNGA First Committee, Congress MP Manish Tewari highlighted the need to address technological and operational risks associated with nuclear arsenals, particularly those arising from the use of emerging technologies in nuclear command and control systems.

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India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations highlighted Tewari's remarks in a post on X, reiterating New Delhi's commitment to global nuclear disarmament and efforts to strengthen the international non-proliferation regime.

"India acknowledges that the use of artificial intelligence in nuclear command and control raises real questions," Tewari stated. "We espouse the principle that the decision to use nuclear weapons should be taken by humans."

Reaffirming India's foundational defence doctrine, the delegate noted that New Delhi's strategic capabilities are purely defensive and shaped by regional security realities rather than targeted at any single nation.

"As a responsible nuclear weapon state, India maintains a policy of credible minimum deterrence with a posture of no first use and non-use against non-nuclear weapon states," Tewari declared. "We are prepared to convert these undertakings into multilateral legal arrangements. I wish to underline that India's capabilities are shaped by our unique security environment and are not directed against any specific actor."

Reiterating New Delhi's commitment to nuclear restraint, India reaffirmed its adherence to a voluntary unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing. Tewari also advocated for legally binding negative security assurances to protect non-nuclear nations.

"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," he noted, adding that such guarantees would directly contribute to reducing nuclear risk worldwide.

Underlining India's long-standing position on complete global denuclearisation, Tewari reaffirmed that New Delhi remains steadfastly 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 explained. "We outlined this approach in our 2006 working paper to the First Committee, and again in 2007 at the Conference on Disarmament as document CD/1816. The relevance of this approach endures."

Tewari also highlighted two resolutions that India traditionally tables at the UN First Committee to promote nuclear disarmament and reduce the risks associated with nuclear weapons.

Reducing Nuclear Danger (Tabled since 1998): Draws attention to the hazardous "hair-trigger alert status of nuclear weapons" and calls for urgent de-alerting and de-targeting to eliminate the risk of accidental or unintentional use.

Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons (Tabled since 1992): Calls on the Conference on Disarmament to negotiate an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.

"Such a universal legally binding agreement would build the political will needed for the total elimination of nuclear weapons," Tewari emphasised, soliciting continued co-sponsorship and support from UN member states.

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Clarifying India's position on existing international treaties, the statement noted that while the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) does not impose legal obligations on New Delhi, India's broader commitment to global non-proliferation remains unchanged.

"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," Tewari affirmed.

Concluding the statement, Tewari stressed the importance of international cooperation to prevent terrorists and non-state actors from accessing nuclear weapons, materials and technology.

"We also remain committed to promoting international efforts to prevent terrorists and non-state actors from gaining access to nuclear weapons, materials, and technology," the MP said.