Security Council Deplores Tests, Urges Avoidance of Arms Race

After an overnight delay imposed by China, the U.N. Security Council on Friday unanimously deplored Pakistan’s round of nuclear tests and urged that country and India to avoid an atomic arms race on the subcontinent.

In a statement read by Kenyan Ambassador Njuguna Moses Mahugu, president of the council this month, the 15-member body also called on both countries to sign the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and to enter into negotiations aimed at resolving their conflict over the disputed Kashmir region and other issues.

“The council reaffirms that the sources of tension in South Asia should be reduced and eliminated only through peaceful dialogue and not by the use of force or other military means,” the statement read.

The council’s action is similar to a measure adopted earlier this month after India tested nuclear devices, touching off the current tensions. However, adoption of Friday’s measure was delayed overnight at the insistence of the Chinese delegation, which said it needed to confer with authorities in Beijing before voting. Other council members had been prepared Thursday to adopt the measure condemning Pakistan.

By contrast, China, which is aligned with Pakistan against India, was quick to condemn the Indian tests.

The statement Friday threatened no consequences as a result of the Pakistani explosions. But Costa Rica, Sweden and some other countries continued working on another proposal that might spell out further steps.