PM Manmohan Singh proposes no-first use of nuclear weapons

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today proposed a global convention on 'no-first use' of nuclear weapons as it could lead to elimination of atomic arsenal.

"If all states possessing nuclear weapons recognise that if this is so (nuclear weapons are only for deterrence) and are prepared to declare it, we can quickly move to the establishment of global no-first use norm. In many ways this can open the ways to gradual reduction and finally elimination through a nuclear weapon convention. Such a convention would require necessary verification. It would also require political measures to ensure the stability is maintained at the level as nuclear arsenal approaches zero," he said.

Singh was speaking at an IDSA seminar on "A Nuclear Free World: From Conception to Reality". "More and more voices are speaking out today that the sole purpose of nuclear weapons while they exist should be to deter a nuclear attack," he said. 

Singh said that it was important to reduce the importance of nuclear weapons. However, this cannot be done by a single nation, but requires a multilateral agreement. "What is important today is an agreed multilateral framework that can involve all states possessing nuclear weapons. What is needed is focus on practical measures that reduce nuclear dangers," he said.