International - India & World   

Panel asks India, Pakistan to ratify CTBT

United Nations: An independent commission seeking to end the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction has recommended that all nuclear weapon states, including India, Pakistan, United States and China, ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which prohibits all nuclear weapon testing.

Headed by the former U.N. chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, the panel wants New Delhi and Islamabad to join the states that have declared a moratorium on production of fissile material pending a treaty and increase transparency in the nuclear and missile activities.

"The reality is that if the U.S. were to ratify [the CTBT], then China would. If China did, India would. If India did, Pakistan would. If Pakistan did, then Iran would. It would set in motion a good domino effect," Mr.Blix told a news conference when he released the report on Wednesday.

In the recommendations, the panel suggested that both Iran and Israel commit themselves against enriching uranium under international safeguards as part of a wider effort to establish a mass destruction weapon free zone in West Asia. — PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

U.N. for massive rise in Palestinian aid
Pakistani shot at in U.K. raid
Water diversion project
Dog handler sentenced
Putin sacks chief prosecutor
Maoists demand constituent assembly
Military option ruled out: Russia
Panel proposed to end ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka
Panel asks India, Pakistan to ratify CTBT
Anti-Indian graffiti on house in U.S.
China, India will shape Asia: Lee

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu