Disarmament meet indulges in India-bashing

She was speaking after nearly two dozen nations condemned and expressed concern over the Indian tests and warned against the resumption of a nuclear arms race in the region. While Pakistan and China led the tirade, criticism, mostly from Western nations was packaged in the 8220;concern8221; language 8212; concern for peace in the region, global arms race and the fate of internationalnuclear disarmament treaties.

Most diplomats re-read statements issued in their capitals earlier. Many countries also called for immediate talks on total and complete nuclear disarmament as the only way to prevent tensions in the region and elsewhere. Members of the non-aligned movement were largely silent.

The strongest condemnation came from Pakistan8217;s ambassador Munir Akram who set the tone earlier in the morning by walking into the conference clad in traditional Pakistani clothing.

8220;A new nuclear weapon state has been born,8221; Akram said in remarks to journalists and left open the distinct possibility that Pakistan would respond to the Indian nuclear blasts this week with its own series of tests. He said Pakistan had been the subject of discriminatory sanctions with regard to building its nuclear programme. 8220;We have the technological and other capabilities now to develop the various aspects of our programmes required to respond to India8217;s past, present and future escalatory steps,8221; the Pakistanidiplomat said.

He said India8217;s calls for global nuclear disarmament were 8220;a ploy8221; and accused several Western nations including the United States and Switzerland of assisting India in advancing its nuclear weapons programme.

Recent statements from New Delhi identifying China as the major threat to India8217;s security were also, according to Akram, diversionary tactics.China8217;s ambassador Li Changhe told reporters: 8220;China thinks this act by India runs against the international consensus for non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. This nuclear test is a heavy blow to international endeavors for non-proliferation.8221;

Western diplomats say that while the Indian tests will be discussed at the upcoming G-8 summit in Birmingham this weekend, they were unable to say if the group of industrialised nations would come out jointly against India. Among the G-8, France, Germany and Russia have often been at variance with the United States and Great Britain.

US ambassador John Grey, in remarks prepared for delivery tothe CD said: 8220;8230; the US strongly deplores the nuclear weapons tests which India has just conducted8230; These tests raise the risk of further nuclear missile proliferation in South Asia.8221;