Arms: India destroys more than 75 per cent of its chemical weapons

CBW Magazine reports that India has destroyed more than 75 percent of its chemical weapons stockpile and is committed to eliminating the balance by 2009.

“By the end of 2006, India had destroyed more than 75 percent of its chemical weapons/material stockpile. India had asked for and was granted extension for destroying (the remaining stocks by April 2009) and is expected to achieve 100 percent destruction within this timeframe,” the journal reported.

India long denied possessing chemical weapons but in June 1997, declared a stockpile of 1,044 tonnes of sulphur mustard. At that time, less than two percent of the chemical was filled into artillery shells and the remainder stored in bulk containers. India’s declaration came after the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) that created the OPCW. On Jan 14, 1993 India become an original signatory to the CWC.