(a) whether the US Government urged India to cap the size of the material stockpile of nuclear weapons during the visit of our Prime Minister to that country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Indian Government thereto,
(c) whether the Government of US also urged India to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT); and
(d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?
THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JASWANT SINGH)
(a) & (b) The issue of `material stockpile of nuclear weapons` did not come up during
the discussions. However, as the Joint Statement indicates, the subject of a cut-off of
production of fissile material for weapons and CTBT were discussed. The US side spoke
of its moratorium on the production of fissile material for weapons purposes and support
for a multilateral moratorium on such production pending conclusion of a Fissile Material
Cut-off Treaty (FMCT). Indian side stated its position of support for commencement of
multilateral negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament for a universal, non-
discriminatory and verifiable Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) that would prohibit
the future production of fissile material for weapons purposes. India does not support the
idea of any unilateral moratorium on production of fissile material.
(c) & (d) The issue of CTBT was discussed as part of the ongoing dialogue on security
and non-proliferation issues. Both sides reiterated their respective commitments to forgo
nuclear explosive tests. India reaffirmed that, subject to its supreme national interests, it
will continue its voluntary moratorium until the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
comes into effect. The United States reaffirmed its intention to work for ratification of
the Treaty by the US Senate at the earliest possible date.