Abstract
Efforts for control of proliferation of nuclear weapons began soon after they were used in 1945. Much progress in this regard, however, could not be made due to states’ security imperatives. For the same reason progress on FMCT has also not been made, but FMCT drafts give us an insight on the rationale behind the proposals suggested by the states and organizations.
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) prohibits non-nuclear weapon states parties to the treaty, from developing nuclear weapons. The treaty, however, exempts five ‘de-jure’ nuclear weapon states (NWS); France, China, Russian, United Kingdom, and United States from this ban. These five states had tested nuclear weapons before the treaty was negotiated in 1968. Three other nuclear armed states India, Israel, and Pakistan have not joined the NPT, but are commonly considered as ‘defacto1’ nuclear weapon states. In addition, North Korea recently declared itself a nuclear weapon state by exploding three nuclear devices. NWS are considered to have legitimate right to possess nuclear weapons as per NPT provisions. Defacto nuclear weapon states’ right of possession of nuclear weapons, however, is not yet recognized under NPT provisions or any other multilateral regime