India studying UNSC’s draft NPT resolution

NEW DELHI: India is closely monitoring a draft Security Council resolution moved by the US, asking non-NPT countries to sign the treaty. The draft resolution, which has been circulated by the US, asks signatories to cooperate to rid the world of nuclear weapons and asks countries out of the loop to sign the treaty. Though the resolution is aimed at North Korea and Iran, India is likely to feel some heat.

Sources, however, pointed out that the draft that has been circulated is a work in progress and is likely to undergo changes before it is put to the vote. ���We don���t know the final outcome,��� sources said. On September 24, US president Barack Obama is set to chair that special meeting of UNSC on nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament where the resolution is expected to be put to the vote.

The draft resolution, which was circulated, asks signatories to ���to comply fully with all their obligations under the treaty��� and for others to become signatories. It further ���calls upon all states that are not parties to the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons to join the treaty so as to achieve its universality at an early date, and in any case to adhere to its terms���.

It also urges all countries ���to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to nuclear arms reduction and disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control���.

The US has also decided to include a reference to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) asking all countries to ���refrain from conducting a nuclear test explosion and to join the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, thereby bringing the treaty into force���.

New Delhi is not overly bothered about the CTBT which will only become an issue after the US and also China ratify the treaty. On the NPT, India���s position has been unwavering, saying that it will not sign a discriminatory treaty. Apart from India, Israel and Pakistan have also refused to sign the NPT. Sources pointed out that India has a clear and unambiguous position on the NPT and CTBT and one that has remained the same from the time the treaties came into being.

This is not the first time the UNSC will be putting such a resolution to the vote. After the nuclear tests in 1998, the UNSC voted and passed resolution 1172 asking India and Pakistan to sign the NPT as well as the CTBT.