India, Pakistan reject call to give up nuclear weapons

UNGA resolution, that included Israel, was passed overwhelmingly

India, backed by the United States, opposed a U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) resolution calling on New Delhi to voluntarily abandon its nuclear weapons. The resolution, which also targeted Israel and Pakistan, was, however, passed overwhelmingly.

The U.S. joined India to vote against a key part of the resolution on achieving a nuclear weapons-free world that called on India, Israel and Pakistan to immediately and unconditionally accede to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and put all their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

This clause would require the three countries to give up such weapons and the ability to manufacture them. Israel and Pakistan also voted against the provision, while France, Britain and Bhutan abstained from voting. It was passed with 165 votes in the 193-member UNGA.