NEW DELHI - India is committed to non-proliferation and disarmament but would conduct a nuclear test if needed, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Wednesday in parliament. ‘If we feel a test is necessary because of the geopolitical situation, refining of weapons is necessary, we will do it,’ Mukherjee said in the Rajya Sabha upper house.He was replying to doubts raised by opposition and leftist allies that the agreement governing a civilian nuclear deal with the United States would impact India’s right to test nuclear devices. ‘If India considers it necessary, India will undertake tests as we did in 1974 and as we did in 1998. The consequences will also follow as it did in 1974 and 1998,’ Mukherjee said. A range of sanctions were imposed on India by the US and other countries after the tests.
The proposed nuclear deal between India and the US would allow the latter to provide IndiaÂ’s civilian reactors with fissile materials and technology ending a 30-year ban. That deal can become operational only after India enters into a a country-specific international safeguards agreement, and amendments are made to the Nuclear SuppliersÂ’ Group guidelines.