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In another important decision, the Cabinet, which met here this morning, approved the ratification of the amended Protocol-ll which prohibits the use of land mines, booby-traps and other similar devices against civilians.

Briefing newspersons about the Cabinet meeting, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan pointed out that the ratification of additional Protocol-lV, which makes it obligatory on all its signatories to take precaution measures against the use of blinding laser weapons, had also been given the go-ahead.

The twin decisions were taken in keeping with India’s commitment to strengthen the international norm against the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel landmines and on the prohibition on transfer and use of blinding laser weapons.

In pursuant to these decisions, Mahajan said that the Cabinet had also approved the introduction of the requisite bill in Parliament in the next session.

The amended Protocol-ll also specifies that all anti-personnel mines must be detectable by commonly available mine-detecting equipments. Besides banning transfer of prohibited mines, it provides for several other safeguards.

India is a signatory to the 1981 convention on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of certain conventional weapons which are excessively injurious or have indiscriminate effects.

Protocol-ll of the convention restricts the use of anti-personal and anti-tank mines, booby traps and remote controlled or delayed explosive devices.

But the last few years have seen an indiscriminate use of land mines. There are an estimated 110 million mines spread across 64 countries with an additional two to five million being laid each year.

A review of the convention was therefore requested from various quarters, including the United Nations General Assembly. The amended Protocol-II and additional Protocol-lV were subsequently proposed.