Allegations of use of chemical weapons need to be dealt with utmost attention India said

India at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday said that the country has been repeatedly cautioning against the possibility of terrorist entities and individuals gaining access to chemical weapons, including in the region.

A statement by Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations TS Tirumurti at the UNSC briefing on Syria (Chemical Weapons) said in the wake of ISIL remaining active in Syria, where the group is seeking to rebuild its combat capabilities, allegations of the use of chemical weapons need to be dealt with utmost attention.

“India’s position on issues related to Syria acceding to the Chemical Weapons Convention is well known. It is our principled stand that CWC is a unique, non-discriminatory disarmament instrument for elimination of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction,” Tirumurti said.

Noting that India attaches high importance to the CWC, and stands for its full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation, he stated that India supports the collective efforts by all the parties to ensure that the credibility and integrity of this Convention is maintained to the fullest.

“India is against the use of chemical weapons by anybody, anywhere, at any time and under any circumstances,” the Indian envoy to UN said.

“India has consistently maintained that any investigation into the use of chemical weapons must be impartial, credible, and objective, following scrupulously the provisions and procedures embedded in the Convention, and in conformity with the delicate balance of power and responsibility enshrined under it, to establish facts and reach evidence-based conclusions. This should be adhered to,” he argued.

“India has also been repeatedly cautioning against the possibility of terrorist entities and individuals gaining access to chemical weapons, including in the region,” Tirumurti said.

“The reports of UNITAD have also referred to the repeated deployments of chemical weapons by UN proscribed terrorist groups and those affiliated to ISIL against civilian populations between 2014 and 2016,” he alluded.

“ISIL remains active in Syria, where the group is seeking to rebuild its combat capabilities. Therefore, allegations of the use of chemical weapons need to be dealt with utmost attention,” the Indian Ambassador to UN stated.

“India continues to believe that progress on other tracks could help with potential forward movement in respect of the political process in Syria as advocated by UNSCR 2254,” he added.

“We encourage continued engagement between Syria and the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW to address and resolve all relevant issues relating to chemical weapons,” Tirumurti said.