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India Moves To Protect Its Nuclear And Missile Technology From Being Leaked
New Delhi (AFP) May 10, 2005 India, which shocked the world with a series of nuclear tests in May 1998, introduced a bill in parliament Tuesday to ban proliferation and the transfer of missile technology to non-nuclear states. Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee introduced the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems bill on the eve of the seventh anniversary of India's underground nuclear testing that included a 45-megaton thermonuclear device. The bill would "provide an integrated legislative basis to India's commitment to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," Mukherjee said. "The provisions of the act apply to the export, transfer, re-transfer, transit and transshipment of material, equipment or technology relating to weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery." India has refused to sign two hallmark agreements on proliferation, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and Non-Proliferation Treaty, saying they are discriminatory because they allow the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to keep their nuclear weapons. After the 1998 tests, which were followed by nuclear tests by rival Pakistan the same month, India announced a moratorium on future testing and called for a time-frame for global disarmament. "In view of India's status as a nuclear weapon state and its international commitments it was felt necessary to introduce this legislation," a statement accompanying the draft legislation said and spelled out rules of adherence. "No person shall transfer, acquire, possess or transport fissile or radioactive material and prohibits export of material, equipment or technology intended to be used in the design or manufacture of a biological, chemical or nuclear weapons," it said. Indian government officials said punishments for offenders would range from five years to life imprisonment as well as a fine. In April, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offered New Delhi greater access to high technology sales, including civilian nuclear power plants and fuel to meet its growing energy needs. India is currently barred from buying such equipment because it is not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty that forbids such sales to countries that do not agree to international inspection of nuclear plants and facilities. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
World Powers Threaten Defiant Iran Over Nuclear Crisis
Vienna (AFP) Jan 11, 2006World powers threatened Iran with UN Security Council sanctions Wednesday after it resumed sensitive nuclear activities as a defiant Tehran vowed to press ahead with its disputed atomic programme. |
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