This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.
Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.
1996
The Agni missile project is cancelled.
--"Offensive Weapons, India," Jane's, <http://www.janes.com>.
18-22 March 1996
At the thirteenth session of the OPCW PrepCom Review Conference, India submits a working paper calling for the end of all chemical trade barriers for countries who are parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention.
--Chronology 1996, The Arms Control Reporter, July 1996; The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 32 (June 1996), p. 9 & 19.
11 April 1996
The US Defense Secretary William Perry releases "Proliferation: Threat and Response." The report states that India is capable of producing chemical weapons, and although India has never admitted to having an offensive chemical weapons program, it produces many dual-use chemicals that can be used as precursors and be able to support a large chemical weapons program.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 32 (June 1996), p. 31.
15 April-3 May 1996
The Defense Research and Development Establishment in Gwalior, India hosts an international training course for CWC National Authorities personnel, in cooperation with the OPCW Provisional Technical Secretariat.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 32 (June 1996), p. 32.
23 June 1996
The Iranian government agrees to give an unidentified Bombay-based company the rights to build a sophisticated chemical plant in Qazvim, Iran. The plant is to be used to produce phosphorous pentasulfide, a chemical known as a precursor for chemical weapons. The deal is reportedly worth over $15 million and is negotiated by the Iranian company, Melli Agrochemicals.
--Con Coughlin, "Iran in Secret Chemical Weapons Deal with India," Sunday Telegraph, 23 June 1996, International, p. 26; David Makovsky and Douglas David Adds, "US, Europe to Clash on Iran at G-7," Jerusalem Post, 24 June 1996, p. 1.
25 June 1996
Shiv Mukherjee, the Minister for Press, Information, and Culture for the Indian Embassy in the United States, dismisses recent press reports that India was in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention for building a factory for the production of phosphorus pentasulfide in Qazin, Iran. Mukherjee states that the chemical was not banned by the CWC and that the Indian government monitors all commercial deals to insure that chemicals are not diverted for other means.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 33 (September 1996), p 23.
July 1996
Four authors from the Defense Research and Development Organization publish in Defense Science Journal the paper "Electron Microscopical Study on Skin Lesions Induced by Sulphur Mustard."
--"Chemical Weapons Convention-Declarations and Inspections," Trust & Verify Issue 76, August 1997.
September 1996
The Defense Agricultural Research Laboratory moves it headquarters to Pithoragarh from Haldwani.
--Defense Agricultural Research Laboratory, <http://www.drdo.com/labs/dls/darl/history.shtml>.
3 September 1996
India deposits with the UN Secretary-General its instrument of ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention, making it the 62nd country to do so.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 34 (December 1996), p. 20.
December 1996
A CIA report states that from July-December 1996, India has sold chemical weapons-related equipment and materials to Iran.
--Central Intelligence Agency, The Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventions/Munitions July – December 1996, June 1997, <http://www.fas.org/irp/cia/product/wmd.htm>.
1997
India requests that information regarding inspections on its territories be excluded from OPCW reports to the First Conference of the States Parties. Yet, at the same time, four initial Article V inspections are carried out three different times, raising speculation that India possesses chemical weapons.
--Jean Pascal Zanders and John Hart, Chemical and Biological Weapon Developments and Arms Control, 1997, p. 5.
17 March 1997
Indian Foreign Minister Inder Kumar Gujral states that India will review its ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention if the United States, China, and Pakistan fail to ratify the treaty.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 36 (June 1997), p. 20.
3 April 1997
India reiterates that it is free to review its stance on the Chemical Weapons Convention because key signatories have yet to ratify it.
--"India Sticks to Stand on Chemical Weapons Convention," The Hindu, 12 April 1997, p. 6.
17 April 1997
India begins contacting experts in international law in an attempt to find a way out if its commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention. India is growing increasingly concerned because the United States, China, and Pakistan have yet to ratify the treaty, which is scheduled to go into effect on 29 April 1997.
--Sanjeev Miglani, "India Tries to Wiggle Out of Chemical Arms Treaty," Asia Times, 17 April 1997.
6 May 1997
India announces that it is setting up a CWC National Authority under the administrative control of the Cabinet Secretariat. The new agency is to act as a liaison with the OPCW to ensure that the availability of dual-use chemicals is not prohibited.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 37 (September 1997), p. 16; "India Sets up Watchdog Panel on Chemical Weapons," The Hindu, 17 May 1997, p. 9.
12 May 1997
India is elected the first chairman of the Executive council of the OPCW.
--Manoj Joshi, "Weapons Convention: Chemical Confessions," India Today, 7 July 1997, Defense; p. 76.
28 May 1997
India announces the establishment of a national authority to help it fulfill its CWC obligations. The government also calls for all countries that have not yet ratified the treaty, to do so.
--"Body Set up to Meet Chemical Weapons Conventional Obligations," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 30 May 1997, Part 3 Asia-Pacific; South Asia; Pakistan; FE/D2932/A.
29 May 1997
India submits its initial declaration on its chemical weapons to the OPCW.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 39 (March 1998), p. 4.
June 1997
According to a CIA report, India is one of the major suppliers of chemical equipment to Iran.
--The Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventions/Munitions July-December 1996, CIA Report, June 1997.
24 June 1997
The Indian Defense Ministry states that the Prime Minister's cabinet decides to release the existence of India chemical weapons program to the OPCW.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 37 (September 1997), p. 44.
26 June 1997
The Indian government submits its initial declaration to the Organization of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) at The Hague, disclosing that it possesses chemical weapons stockpiles and production facilities. The Indian Defense Ministry states "based on available information, initial declarations have been filed by India on testing and development of chemical weapons and their related facilities, which were developed only to deal with the situation arising out of a possible use of chemical warfare against India." [Note: Prior to this admission, the Indian government had repeatedly declared that it did not possess chemical weapons and did not have a chemical weapons program.]
--Manoj Joshi, "Chemical Confessions," India Today, 7 July 1997, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; Sanjeev Miglani, "India puts its chemical weapons on the table," Asia Times, 4 July 1997, <http://www.asiatimes.com>.
26 June 1997
India discloses to the OPCW that it possesses a stockpile of chemical weapons as well as manufacturing facilities. India also discloses that the Defense Research and Development Organization is developing these weapons in "experimental facilities."
--International Security Digest, July 1996, p. 6.
26 June 1997
India states that it developed its chemical weapons for defensive purposes.
--"India Revealed Its Chemical Weapon Stockpile," The Arms Control Reporter, September 1997.
July 1997
A four-person OPCW inspection team visit a laboratory in Gwalior, India to verify India's compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. The OPCW reports that India is in compliance.
--R. Bedi, "Indian Chemical Bases Come Under Scrutiny," Jane's Defence Weekly, vol. 28, no. 6, 13 August 1997, p. 5.
Early August 1997
A ten-person team of inspectors from the Organization of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) conducts an inspection of a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) facility involved in chemical weapons production. The facility is located at Ozra (near Nashik, Maharashtra).
--Rahul Bedi, "International team inspects chemical weapons facility," South China Morning Post, 8 August 1997.
7 August 1997
In a speech to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, India Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral states that India still reserves the right to pull out of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Gujral says that India will take such action only if it views that its security is at risk. Gujral also emphasizes that India is no longer producing chemical weapons, but continues to possess such capabilities in order to restrain the aggressive designs of countries that have not given up the idea of using these weapons against India.
--Leonid Kotov, "India Reserves Right to Quit Chemical Weapons Ban Convention," TASS, 7 August 1997.
8 August 1997
An OPCW team inspects the chemical laboratory in Ozra, India.
--R. Bedi, "Indian Chemical Bases Come Under Scrutiny," Jane's Defense Weekly, vol. 28, no. 6, 13 August 1997, p. 5; Rahul Bedi, "International Team Inspects Chemical Weapons Facility," South China Morning Post, 6 August 1997 p. 12; The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 38 (December 1997), p. 21.
15-20 September 1997
The Defense Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) offers a Continuing Education Program (CEP) course entitled "Hazards in Chemical Laboratory Prevention & Protection Methods."
--Defense Research & Development Establishment manual, <http://www.drdo.org/labs/material/drde/history.shtml>.
22-25 November 1997
The Secretariat of the OPCW visits India and meets with senior officials and personnel of the National Authority.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 38 (December 1997), p. 14.
4 January 1998
In Pakistan, the daily newspaper Jasarat, reports that India has yet to sign the Chemical Weapons Convention.
[Note: Perhaps the authors intended to say "ratify" and not "sign" as India was a signatory to the CWC by this date.]
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 39 (March 1998), p. 33.
22 February 1998
In Bangalore, Indian defense science advisor A.P.J. Abdul Kalam states that the intermediate range Agni missile had the capability to carry a nuclear, biological, or chemical warhead.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 40 (June 1998), p. 24.
11 March 1998
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ayub Khan states that India possesses chemical weapons and can use them against Pakistan.
--Sayuri Saito, "Japan Urged to Take Role in Afghan Peace Process," The Daily Yomiuri, 12 March 1998, p. 3.
May 1998
The United States imposes sanctions on 200 Indian companies for undertaking the nuclear weapons tests in Pokhran. As a result of these tests, both India and Pakistan (which, also tested nuclear weapons in retaliation) are heavily sanctioned by the United States.
--"India-Pakistan Sanctions Legislation Fact Sheet," 11 July 2001, <http://www.clw.org/control/indopaksanctions.html>.
19 May 1998
The Indian Cabinet approves submission to Parliament of a bill on domestic implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 40 (June 1998), p. 37.
June 1998
The Defense Ministry agrees to open up eight Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) laboratories to industry use.
--"CII-DRDO Joint Initiatives," <http://www.ciidefence.com/Rsearch/r&dmainpage.htm>.
2 June 1998
The Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament, passes the Chemical Weapons Convention Bill, 1997, thus implementing the CWC into Indian law.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 41 (September 1998), p. 26.
24 June 1998
An Indian government statement states that the Indian government will allow the export of Schedule 3 chemicals to countries that are signatories of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Companies wishing to export Schedule 3 chemicals will have to provide end-user certificates within 15 days of the actual export date.
--"Indian Government Permits Weapons-Grade Chemical Exports," Asia Pulse, 24 June 1998, Nationwide Financial News.
29 November 1998
The Indian military carries out maneuvers that involve chemical weapons exercises.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 43 (March 1999), p. 24.
December 1998
India conducts military exercises in Rajasthan. The exercises involve maneuvers to protect troops from nuclear, chemical and biological attack.
--"Signals, Indians Exercise in a Big Way," Jane's Defence Weekly, 1 January 1999, Edition 1999, Volume 104/001.
December 1998
The Indian military conducts a ten-day long war game exercise in the Thar desert of western Rajasthan, close to the border of Pakistan. Code-named "Exercise Shiv Shakti," nearly 60,000 troops participated in the exercise, which included "testing Indian planning on conducting and surviving nuclear and chemical war using modern technology and new tactics."
--Dr. Jassim Taqui, "Sanctions Can Be Re-Imposed on Pakistan," Global News Wire, 13 September 1999.
31 December 1998
The Indian Army begins training its medical personnel to deal with contingencies arising from the potential use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. Training for the fallout of a chemical, biological, or nuclear attack had been done earlier at the college of Military Engineering.
--"Army is Training Doctors to Deal With Nuclear War," The Asian Age, 31 December 1998.
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Updated November 2007 |
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