International nuclear order cannot discriminate, Krishna tells UN

India today said it supports a world free of nuclear weapons, but maintained that any international accord to achieve this goal cannot be discriminatory.

"The international order cannot be discriminatory. States must fulfil the obligations they have undertaken," external affairs minister SM Krishna said at the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly here.

"India attaches the highest priority to the goal of nuclear disarmament and has an impeccable non-proliferation record," he said.

Krishna also restated India's proposal in the Rajiv Gandhi Action Plan, which calls for elimination of all nuclear weapons within a specified time frame. "We remained committed to a voluntary, unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing," he noted.

Krishna's statement came in the wake of an UNSC resolution seeking all non NPT signatories to join the treaty.

In his address to the world body, Krishna underlined India's position on a variety of issues, including regional peace, reform of the United Nations and climate change.

He said India is committed to resolve all outstanding issues with Pakistan through peaceful dialogue. "India is committed to establishing good neighbourly relations and resolving all outstanding issues with Pakistan through peaceful dialogue," Krishna said.

Emphasising over the need for regional peace in South Asia, Krishna said, "There is a new beginning in Sri Lanka, in Nepal strengthening the peace process in our collective interest and in Afghanistan, the international community must remain intensively engaged."

Reminding the gathering of last year's terrorist attacks on Mumbai, he called for agreement on the text of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that has
been proposed by India.

The minister also stressed the need for expanding the Security Council. "It must be accepted that the Security Council must be strengthened and made more representative by expanding its permanent and non-permanent membership," he said.

"Reforming the United Nations is a matter of utmost priority... Four years after the 2005 World Summit, there have not been much progress even as newer and global crises and
problems have emerged," he said.

On climate change, Krishna said, "Poverty alleviation and livelihood security are central imperatives for India. For this accelerated economic growth and energy security are
critical drivers."

"The Indian side asked for concerted action and the need to complete the process of investigation of the Mumbai attacks because the conspiracy emanated in Pakistan," the
Indian delegation told PTI.

"There is a need to bring the investigation to a satisfactory conclusion," it added.

Bashir said, "What our Indian friends need to realise is that much more than India, Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism so playing the victim does not help really."

"As far as Pakistan is concerned, I think, I have personally found the meeting useful because we were able to touch upon a lot of issues, including issues which are of primary concern to India, that is the Mumbai investigations," he said.

The Pakistani foreign secretary said, "We seek a meaningful engagement to address all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir. We look with a great deal of optimism and confidence for the future of our region."

The meeting between Rao and Bashir marked the first high-level contact between the two countries since the prime ministers of the two countries met at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on July 16.

"The positive momentum of Sharm-el Sheikh has not been fully registered in India but there is hope that the understanding at the high levels will continue," Bashir said.

"We are very sincerely committed to promoting good neighbourly friendly relations with all of our neighbours," he added.