US didn't ask India to sign CTBT: Govt

Government today informed the Rajya Sabha that the United States has not requested India to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in recent bilateral discussions.    

In a written reply, Minister of External Affairs S M Krishna said CTBT does not affect the October 10, 2008 agreement which enables civil nuclear cooperation between India and Pakistan.    

"India has declared a voluntary, unilateral moratorium on nuclear explosive testing," he added.    

Giving a list of the countries which have signed the CTBT, the minister said India, Pakistan and DPR Korea have not signed it despite 181 states having signed the treaty.