UN nuclear disarmament meet: India reaffirms ‘no first use’ policy; urges credible minimum deterrence | India News

NEW DELHI: At the high-level meeting of the united nations general assembly (UNGA) marking the international day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, India reaffirmed its commitment to responsible nuclear conduct, reiterating its policy of no first use and non-use against non-nuclear-weapon States.Representing India, Sibi George, secretary (West) ministry of external affairs, said, “India is a responsible nuclear-weapon State, committed to maintaining credible minimum deterrence with a policy of no first-use and non-use against non-nuclear-weapon States.”The annual UN meeting brought together global leaders and diplomats to highlight the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons and push for renewed progress on disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control.UN secretary-general António Guterres, warned that the world is “sleepwalking into a new nuclear arms race”, urging countries to return to dialogue and uphold commitments under the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT). He also called on nuclear States to ratify the comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty and to adopt transparency and confidence-building measures.Pakistan, in its remarks, said it remained committed to the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world, but emphasised that this must be achieved in a “universal, verifiable and non-discriminatory manner” and in a way that ensures “undiminished security for all States at the lowest possible level of armaments.”Japan, Fiji, the Marshall Islands and other nations shared historical experiences of nuclear testing and called for global abolition of nuclear weapons, citing long-term health and environmental damage. Pacific island nations recalled Cold War-era nuclear tests that left generational impacts.India, which is not a party to the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons but is a recognised nuclear-weapon state under the NPT framework, maintained that its doctrine ensures deterrence while advocating for a non-discriminatory and verifiable disarmament regime.The meeting also saw renewed calls for the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, particularly in the Middle East and Africa, while several states flagged rising geopolitical tensions and the risk of miscalculation in an increasingly AI-driven defence landscape.