Amid spiralling tensions between Russia and the UK following a chemical attack on double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, India today said it is against the use of chemical weapons and the issue should be resolved in accordance with the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
There are reports that the UK is keen on raising the issue at the Commonwealth Heads of the Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in London next week.
When Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar was asked about the telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday, he said he did not have information on what the two leaders talked about.
However, he said, "India is against the use of chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anybody, under any circumstances. We hope that this issue is resolved in accordance with the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) so as to reach evidence-based conclusions. India, as all other countries, awaits the outcome of the investigation."
The nerve agent attack on Skripal has led to a diplomatic showdown with both the sides expelling each other's diplomats from their countries.
Amid reports of an alleged chemical attack in Douma, Syria, by government forces last week, Kumar said that the use of such weapons anywhere is against the provisions of the CWC and the perpetrators of such acts must be held accountable.
"Any use of chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anybody, under any circumstances is in complete disregard of humanity, and is reprehensible and contrary to the provisions of the CWC as well as accepted international norms. The perpetrators of such abhorrent acts must be held accountable," Kumar said.
The chemical weapon attack has attracted widespread criticism against the Assad regime in Syria.
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