India advised to change nuclear policy

The experts who advise India’s government on security have recommended it drop its policy of not using nuclear weapons first in a conflict, it was reported today.

New Delhi reiterated the long standing policy when it announced a command structure for its nuclear weapons on January 4.

But two weeks earlier, the National Security Advisory Board had recommended the government abandon the no-first-use doctrine altogether,

"India must consider withdrawing from this commitment, as the other nuclear weapon states have not accepted this policy," the newspaper quoted a December 20 report by the group as saying.

Indian and Pakistani leaders have recently made strong statements about the possible consequences of a nuclear war between them.

Pakistan, like the United States and other nuclear-armed countries, has never promised not to strike first.