INDIA CALLS FOR COMPLIANCE OF BIO WEAPON PACT

New Delhi: India on Friday pitched for strict compliance of a global treaty banning production of entire range of biological weapons of mass destructions, highlighting the need for effective response to the challenges posed by new scientific developments in the area. In making the fresh call to ban biological weapons on the occasion of 45th anniversary of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention coming into force, India also made a mention of the fast spreading coronavirus and its global impact. In a statement, the MEA, without elaborating, said the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has underlined the need for international cooperation, including institutional strengthening of the World Health Organisation. It said India has been working with other member countries of the Convention to establish a database which can play an important role in dealing with bio-threats and bioemergencies. “India strongly believes that the BWC must respond effectively to the challenges posed by the new and emerging scientific and technological developments of relevance to the convention,” the MEA said. It said India has been submitting an annual resolution at the UNGA on the “Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament”, which has been adopted by consensus. “The global economic and social implications of the pandemic, caused by Covid-19, have underlined the need for international cooperation, including institutional strengthening of the WHO,” it added. — PTI