It is making headlines that India’s annual resolution on counter-terrorism got unanimously adopted in the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The resolution titled ‘Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction’ gathered sponsorship from over 75 countries, and was agreed upon without a vote.
India’s Advocacy Against State-Sponsored Terrorism
Being an afflicted party of state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, India has been persistently emphasizing the severe threat posed to international peace and security through the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by terrorist organizations. Notably, this Indian resolution came into existence even before the implementation of resolution 1540 by the Security Council.
The Importance of Resolution 1540
Through resolution 1540 in 2004, the Security Council mandated that all states should refrain from offering any form of support to non-state actors that seek to develop, buy, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer, or use nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons, primarily for terrorist objectives. It is worth mentioning that a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) has not been conceded by the UN.
India’s Proposal for a Comprehensive Strategy to Counter Terrorism
With the aim to propose a comprehensive legal framework to curb terrorism, India suggested to the UNGA the adoption of the ‘Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism’ (CCIT) in 1996. The CCIT intends to establish a universal definition of terrorism, prosecute terrorists under special laws, and render cross-border terrorism as an extraditable offence globally, among other things.
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
WMD refers to weapons capable of inflicting death and widespread destruction, to such an extent that their mere presence in the possession of a hostile entity can be perceived as a significant threat. Contemporary WMDs are either nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons—commonly referred to as NBC weapons. International treaties such as the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty of 1968, the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972, and the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993 uphold efforts to restrict the proliferation of WMDs.
India’s Stance on WMDs
India, though not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty of 1968, has enacted an act identified as ‘The Weapons of Mass Destruction and Their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of unlawful activities) Act, 2005.’ This act aims to inhibit illegal activities related to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.
About United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
As one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, UNGA serves as the leading deliberative, policy-making, and representative body of the UN. Founded in 1945, this international organization currently comprises 193 Member States. The five remaining organs include the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the UN Secretariat.
First Committee of UNGA
The First Committee of UNGA, designated as ‘Disarmament and International security,’ addresses disarmament and global challenges and threats to peace influencing the international community. This committee seeks remedies to these challenges in the international security regime and collaborates closely with the United Nations Disarmament Commission and the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament. It is the only primary committee of the General Assembly eligible for verbatim records coverage.