Former IAF chief says holes in Outer Space Treaty be plugged

Underlining the need for plugging holes in the Outer Space Treaty, former IAF Chief Air Chief marshal S Krishnaswamy called for a stronger UN policing to prevent space from being used to attack targets.

Underlining the need for plugging holes in the Outer Space Treaty, former IAF Chief Air Chief marshal S Krishnaswamy called for a stronger UN policing to prevent space from being used to attack targets.

HT Image

"India would like to appeal to international community to see that the holes (in Outer Space Treaty) must be plugged. We also need a strong policing force in the UN. If somebody crosses the line, we need to bring down quickly," Krishnaswamy said here.

The former IAF chief was addressing a conference on 'Space, Science and Security: The Role of Regional Expert Discussion'. Krishnaswamy said some gaps have been left in the treaty by its authors "And probably with a sense of purpose.

After all, law is very clever." He said the treaty implicitly allows certain things for military activity, including transit of nuclear weapons like ICBM and IRBM and non-WMD, non-nuclear weapons can be used from space on targets on space or in space itself.

Observing that India was living in a very difficult environment, he said, "The country needs a good space programme which is imaginative, special and that takes care of all our defence needs. I don't trust anybody. We have learnt our lessons and so, we need to defend ourselves."