India’s Changing Views of Arms Control

Abstract

While a country’s adherence to international agreements is usually taken for granted, rejection of a treaty is more likely to attract attention. The fact that India, or Pakistan for that matter, refused to join the treaty on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT) is highlighted, but their support for disarmament in general, and their adherence to some arms control measures, is ignored. It is probably true that the NPT remains the most important means with which a country’s attitude towards nuclear proliferation can be measured. The NPT is also unique in the sense that it addresses both NWS as well as NNWS, and it is equally a treaty among the latter countries. But it is not sufficient to judge a country’s commitment to non-proliferation only by its commitment to the NPT or vice versa. In practice, many countries have behaved as ‘de facto’ signatories without becoming a party to the NPT. India has so far behaved as such by not committing itself to a nuclear weapons programme. Instead, India remains committed to the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT), and has expressed support for arms control and disarmament measures on a great many occasions.