Abstract
Notwithstanding its acquisition of nuclear weapons capability, India has adhered to a long-standing commitment to universal nuclear disarmament. Its optimism over recent global initiatives is clouded by the concern that these may well be discriminatory and biased toward nonproliferation. Currently, India continues to pursue the capabilities it feels are consistent with minimum deterrence. The prerequisites for its participation in the disarmament process include deep cuts by the United States and Russia, multilateral steps toward a convention committing all states to universal disarmament and toward the adoption of the principle of No First Use, and the involvement of China and Pakistan in the process. A key to facilitating India’s participation would be its full transition from an outsider to an insider vis-à-vis the nonproliferation regime.
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