Nuclear proliferation linkages active today have clear Pakistan fingerprints: India

Delhi: India, during debate on all Disarmament and International Security agenda items, on Wednesday said that nuclear proliferation linkages which were active today had clear Pakistan fingerprints.

Replying to comments made by Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the Conference on Disarmament, Siddhartha Nath said, "Ironic, country whose non-proliferation track record is marked by obstructionism seeks to convince International community on self-serving proposals."

"It's matter of record that Pakistan is singularly responsible for blocking international disarmament agenda and conference on disarmament. The biggest threat to peace and stability comes from active promotion of terrorism and unbridled expansion of fissile material production and delivery systems for nuclear weapons under shadow of a deeply disturbing and deeply entrenched nexus between state and non-state actors," he stated.

"International community must stand united against those whose persistent violations increase nuclear threat and proliferation risks. Nuclear proliferation linkages active today have clear Pakistan fingerprints," Nath, Counsellor, Conference on Disarmament, Geneva, maintained.

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Nath made the remarks as part of India's Right of Reply to Pakistan, which had raised the Kashmir issue at an October 10 session of UN First Committee, which deals with Disarmament and International Security.

He said that the international community must stand united against those whose persistent violations increase nuclear threat and proliferation risks.

Pakistan Ambassador Tehmina Janjua, had said at the session that Prime Minister Minister Nawaz Sharif had in his address to the General Assembly last month expressed readiness to agree on a bilateral arrangement between Pakistan and India on a nuclear test ban.

"We are awaiting a response to that proposal," she had said, adding that peace and stability in South Asia cannot be achieved without resolving underlying disputes, including the "Jammu and Kashmir dispute, agreeing on measures for nuclear and missile restraint, and instituting conventional forces balance," as per PTI.

In its Right of Reply, a Pakistani representative asked why India had not responded to his government's proposals for a bilateral nuclear test ban arrangement.

The Pakistani representative alleged India had conducted its first test in 1974 by 'diverting' resources from a reactor that had been supplied for peaceful use and had continued to develop such weapons despite numerous proposals by Pakistan to keep South Asia free of them.

(With Agency inputs)