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Clandestine proliferation 'dangerous': India

June 09, 2008 22:00 IST

Describing as 'dangerous' the clandestine transfer of atomic knowhow, India on Monday asked all countries to live up to their international commitments 'transparently' to ensure nuclear non-proliferation.

Addressing a conference on disarmament in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee also advocated the need for measures to avert nuclear wars posed by the 'present hair trigger alert' of nuclear weapon.

"The pursuit of clandestine activities in respect of nuclear technologies is unacceptable and dangerous. All States must transparently live up to the international commitment that they have undertaken," he said at the conference 'Towards a World Free of Nuclear Weapons'.

He also reiterated New Delhi's support to international negotiations to usher in universal nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

"We are ready to support multilateral negotiations leading to an early conclusion of nuclear weapons convention prohibiting the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, threat or use of nuclear weapons and providing further elimination," he said.

He also advocated measures to avert an outbreak of nuclear war posed by the present hair trigger alert of atomic weapons.

"Practical steps that reduce the danger of nuclear war posed by present hair trigger alert of nuclear weapon can be contemplated," the External Affairs Minister said.

These steps, he said, would also advance the process of delegitimisation of nuclear weapons on the lines of the exercise undertaken in the elimination of chemical weapons through a comprehensive convention.

"These steps must include strengthened commitments on non-proliferation especially to prevent leakage of dangerous technologies to non-state actors," he added.
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