India has cautioned the international community about the risks of terrorists and non-State actors acquiring sensitive materials and weapons of mass destruction and called for cooperation to tackle the “catastrophic dangers” of such a proliferation.
“As a victim of terrorism, India is fully cognizant of the catastrophic dangers that transfers of WMDs to terrorists and non-State actors could entail. India has taken the lead since 2002 in sponsoring the resolution. Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring WMDs in the General Assembly,” India’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Sujata Mehta said.
“This consensus resolution highlights the concerns of the international community with regard to WMD (weapons of mass destruction) terrorism and calls upon all member states to take measures aimed at preventing terrorists from acquiring WMDs,” Mehta said while addressing the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, which started on Tuesday.
Mehta stressed on the importance of addressing proliferation of radiological weapons, arguing that there is a risk such weapons could be used by terrorists.
“The international community must join hands in eliminating the risks relating to sensitive materials and technologies falling into hands of terrorists and non-State actors, including through clandestine proliferation networks,” she said.
Mehta argued that it is of utmost importance that the principles of a Comprehensive Programme of Disarmament should be universally applicable and relevant.
“A comprehensive programme would consider not only nuclear disarmament, which remains the highest priority of the international community, but also other weapons and weapon systems which are crucial for maintaining international peace and security,” she said.