India has a solid non-proliferation record: US

Praises India for successful testing of the much-awaited Agni-V

The US, which described India's non-proliferation record as "solid", today sought to discourage actions that might destabilise the South Asia region after the successful test-firing of it’s first Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni V.

The Obama Administration also asked all nuclear-capable states to exercise restraint regarding their atomic and missile capabilities.

"We urge all nuclear-capable states to exercise restraint regarding nuclear and missile capabilities, and continue to discourage actions that might destabilise the South Asia region," Tommy Vietor, spokesman for National Security Council, the White House, told PTI responding to questions on Agni V.

A day earlier, the US praised India’s nuclear non-proliferation record as "solid."

"India has a solid non-proliferation record. They're engaged with the international community on non-proliferation issues. And Prime Minister [Manmohan] Singh has attended both of the nuclear security summits, the one in Washington and then Seoul," State Department spokesperson, Mark Toner, said last evening ahead of the launch of Agni V missile by India.

"We urge all nuclear-capable states to exercise restraint regarding nuclear capabilities. That said, you know, India has a solid non-proliferation record," Toner said.

"So you wouldn't have any specific concerns on it as a destabilising factor in the region?" he was asked again.

"I'll just stay with, you know, the fact that we always caution all nuclear-capable states to exercise restraint," Toner responded.

"We have got a very strong strategic and security partnership with India. So we obviously have routine discussions about a wide range of topics, including their defence requirements. I'm not aware that we've specifically raised this issue with them," he said.