Chemical weapons stockpile declared

NEW DELHI, June 26: India today unilaterally declared all its chemical weapons holdings and threw them open to international inspection, bu...

NEW DELHI, June 26: India today unilaterally declared all its chemical weapons holdings and threw them open to international inspection, but declared that it will not let its compliance of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) compromise national security.

Separate statements by the Defence and the External Affairs Ministries said that since the global convention for eliminating chemical weapons has come into force, “India has declared that all such materials in stock, production and storage facilities will be open to international expert inspection at any given time.”

The statement apparently comes in the wake of reports that India would declare its arsenal of weapons-grade chemical substances to the convention at Hague.

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Initial declarations have been filed by India on testing and manufacturing of chemical weapons and other related facilities developed to deal with any situation arising out of possible use of chemical warfare against India, the statements said. An External Affairs Ministry spokesman said India’s decision to make a declaration was a reaffirmation of its commitment to the CWC which was a comprehensive and non-discriminatory agreement.

The Defence Ministry statement notes that the convention enjoins upon all state parties to declare their chemical weapons and to submit a phased plan of destruction of such weapons and facilities over a period of ten years.

Allaying any fears, the statement said adequate safeguards are in place for giving primacy to national security and also for protecting the interests of the Indian chemical industry, according to reports. The government had taken the opinion of all parties, including the opposition, before arriving on the decision.

The decision to go ahead with unilateral declaration of chemical weapons stocks is understood to have been taken at a meeting of the union cabinet earlier this week. Experts say India taking the lead in this regard is being considered significant in view of the avowed policy to improve relations with Pakistan, which has so far not declared its stockpile. The proposal for unilateral declaration is understood to have been moved by Prime Minister I K Gujral.