India wants world free of landmines, but reservation on Ottawa treat

New Delhi, Apr 23 (UNI) Even though India is committed to Ottawa treaty on landmines, it has certain reservations on signing due to the long porous border it shares with its neighbours.

Speaking on India 's position on landmines at the conference on 'Towards a mine free world and Ottawa Treaty', Brigadier S H Mahajan from the Ministry of External Affairs said only armed forces in India are allowed to use landmines and areas where landmines are used were properly fenced to prevent casualities.

However, Brigadier Mahajan maintained that India fully supports vision of a world which is free from the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war, where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conducive to development and also mine survivors are fully integrated.

He said India is working in coordination with UN policy on landmines. On rehabilitation of civilian casualities, the country has taken adequate measures in this regard, he told the two-day conference organized by the Indian Campaign to ban landmines.

Acting High Commissioner of Canada Ken Macartney said that India 's participation is crucial in the international dialogue on mine action and the Ottawa convention. He hoped that the Ottawa convention and mine action could become a possible means of building confidence between India and its neighbours as this region has its own issues.

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