India worried about N-weapons falling in dangerous hands: Saran

India’s growing concern about nuclear weapons falling into the hands of jehadi terrorists and the urgent need to fix a time frame for the total elimination of nuclear weapons was the main point of the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy Shyam Saran’s speech in Paris last week. The occasion was Global Zero, the conference promoting the complete elimination of nuclear weapons.

Saran pointed to the link between ``terrorism and proliferation’’ and described how this escalating danger could not be put on hold, while the world argued on how to go about the task.

``In any case, nuclear weapons cannot credibly deter non-state actors or jehadi groups from using or threatening the use of clandestinely acquired nuclear weapons, even if it is a crude one,’’ Saran said.

It is well known that the fear of jehadis getting hold of Pakistan’s nuclear installation is of grave concern not just to the US, Israel and other western democracies but also India, which faces the threat of being the first on the hit list.

``India’s security has been adversely impacted by the clandestine proliferation of nuclear weapons in its neighbourhood, often ignored and on occasion, encouraged by certain important countries.

The activities of the so-called AQ Khan network is an ominous reminder of the threats India continues to face in this respect,’’ Saran said.

The Global Zero conference will lead up to the Nuclear Security Summit called by President Barack Obama in April, ahead of the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty review in May.