India welcomes Joint Statement on Nuke Disarmament by five powers

India will also continue to contribute further to the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation agenda, the MEA spokesman says.

New Delhi: India has welcomed the Joint Statement, which reaffirms the importance of addressing nuclear threats, and underscores 
the desire to create a more conducive security environment to progress on disarmament.

"As a responsible nuclear weapon state, India has a doctrine of maintaining a credible minimum deterrence based on a No First Use posture and non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states," MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in response to media queries. 

"India remains committed to the goal of universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament," he said.

He further said, "We welcome the Joint Statement this week, which reaffirms the importance of addressing nuclear threats, 
and underscores the desire to work towards creating a security environment more conducive to progress on disarmament with the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons with undiminished security for all."

India's annual resolution at the UNGA on 'Reducing Nuclear Danger' calls for steps to reduce the risk of unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons, including through de-alerting and de-targeting of nuclear weapons. 

"Our annual resolution on a 'Convention on the Prohibition of the use of Nuclear Weapons' seeks the commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances. Both resolutions are adopted with substantive support at the UNGA," he said.

India will continue to contribute further to the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation agenda, the MEA spokesman
added.

On January 3, the US, China, France, Russia and the UK issued a joint statement on preventing nuclear war and avoiding an arms race. The five countries had jointly stated, "We affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought."