India has renewed its call at the United Nations for a comprehensive, legally binding international treaty to ban the placement of weapons in outer space, warning that a selective approach to the growing threat of space militarisation would be counterproductive, according to reports by Nation Press and New Kerala.

Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murty, who is part of the second contingent of Indian MPs joining India's UN delegation, made the statement on behalf of New Delhi on Tuesday. "India reiterates its preference for a legally binding instrument, one that is universally acceptable, verifiable and multilaterally negotiated," she said. Murty said the threats to the safety, security and sustainability of outer space, the risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation, and the threshold for what counts as a use of force in outer space must all be considered together, adding that "a selective focus on some threats over others would be counterproductive."

India identified the Geneva-based UN Conference on Disarmament as the forum where such a treaty should be negotiated, the reports said. Murty underlined that dual-use space technologies and assets are now a reality, and said non-binding norms and transparency measures can complement, but cannot substitute for, a binding instrument. She said India takes note of the draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space, first introduced by China and Russia in 2008, as a basis for further discussion, while noting that differences of opinion continue on how to prevent an arms race in outer space.

The remarks come amid heightened concern over space militarisation. US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink acknowledged earlier this month that the United States has deployed "on-orbit space control weapons," without disclosing what they are — one of the most explicit admissions by a major power of placing armaments in orbit, the reports said. (Sources: Nation Press; New Kerala)