India backs Russia on putting Syrian chemical weapons under global watch

India on Tuesday supported a Russian proposal for Syria to put its chemical weapons under international control, saying that it was crucial to ensure all chemical weapon stockpiles were in safe custody.

India on Tuesday supported a Russian proposal for Syria to put its chemical weapons under international control, saying that it was crucial to ensure all chemical weapon stockpiles were in safe custody.

“We have consistently advocated complete elimination and destruction of the chemical weapons. And pending their elimination, it was vitally important to ensure that all chemical weapon stockpiles are safe and in secure custody,” Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson in the external affairs ministry said.

“If there are any proposals which are moving in this direction, then obviously India will see it as positive developments,” he added. He also informed that India had already said there can be no military solution to resolve the Syrian conflict. US President Barack Obama and his aides are favouring military strikes at the Assad regime in response to a reported chemical attack carried out by the military, claiming that over 1,400 people were killed, including more than 400 children.