NEW DELHI (AFP) — India on Friday asserted its credentials as a "responsible" nuclear weapons state in last-minute lobbying for international backing for its atomic energy deal with the United States.
A statement from Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, setting out the country's commitment to peace, came as the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) prepared to meet in Vienna to consider allowing New Delhi to enter nuclear commerce.
India, which refuses to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty, has "a long-standing and steadfast commitment to universal, non-discriminatory and total elimination of nuclear weapons," Mukherjee said.
New Delhi's attempt to develop a civil nuclear energy programme, for which the NSG waiver is essential, would "strengthen the international non-proliferation regime," Mukherjee said.
"We remain committed to a voluntary, unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing... We have always tempered the exercise of our strategic autonomy with a sense of global responsibility.
"We affirm our policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons," Mukherjee added.
New Delhi has already negotiated bilateral accords with the United States and the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency to place its civilian nuclear power plants under international safeguards.
But for the pact with Washington to be implemented, it still needs the backing of the 45-member NSG and the US Congress.
Critics argue that treating India as a special case will weaken international non-proliferation efforts.
Mukherjee said "India has an impeccable non-proliferation record" and had in place "an (updated) effective and comprehensive system of national export controls."
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