New York/New Delhi: India espouses the policy of "no first use" against nuclear weapon states and non-use against non-nuclear-weapon states, adding that New Delhi is a key partner in global efforts towards disarmament and strengthening the non-proliferation order, said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Friday at the United Nations.
Speaking at the 'International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons', Shringla said, "India accords high priority to the Conference on Disarmament as the world's single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum and supports the commencement of negotiations on a Comprehensive Nuclear Weapons Convention."
He further said that India reiterates its longstanding and unwavering commitment to universal, verifiable and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament leading to complete elimination of nuclear weapons.
India's approach to nuclear disarmament has encapsulated in its working paper submitted to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) First Committee in 2006 and to the Conference on Disarmament in 2007, the Foreign Secretary said.
"We believe that nuclear disarmament can be achieved through a step-by-step process underwritten by a universal commitment and an agreed multilateral framework. India remains convinced of the need for meaningful dialogue among all States possessing nuclear weapons, for building trust and confidence," Shringla said.