Govt signs global code against ballistic missiles

New Delhi claims Agni project will not be impacted

India has joined the Hague Code of Conduct (HCoC) against ballistic missile proliferation, the government said on Thursday. A ballistic missile is a missile with a high, arching trajectory, which is initially powered and guided but falls under gravity on to its target.

This comes days before a meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in South Korea later this month. A decision could be taken on India’s membership to that group. HCoC is a voluntary, legally non-binding measure, on ballistic missiles that are capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction.

“India’s joining the code signals our readiness to further strengthen global non-proliferation objectives,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup stated. It would not, he said, impact our national security interest in any way.

India had been trying to become a member of nuclear control regimes, including the NSG, the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and the Wassenaar Arrangement. "As far as MTCR is concerned, our application is on track and well-received, and we expect the process of India's membership would be completed soon,” Swarup said. India is keen to be admitted in the NSG. America is the principal backer of India’s entry there, a group of countries that seek to contribute to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. But, China opposes our entry. Those who oppose India’s entry into the NSG note we aren't a signatory either to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Delhi and its supporters point to India’s record on responsible nuclear behaviour.