[dropcap]T[/dropcap]HE Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP) has described India's recent ASAT missile test as "ominous" and an "assault" on the ongoing global campaign for the demilitarisation of outer space.."The open and boisterous entry of India into the so-called 'Star-wars' club, despite self-imposed abstinence by all the other technologically advanced countries, except three, is a wholly regrettable development', a CNDP statement, issued on March 29, 2019 said.\.Terming the tests as "India's bid to prepare for 'tomorrow's war'", the organisation said these signs were "too ominous", and went against the resolution of the Outer Space Treaty, 1967 that India is a party to. Terming United States as the 'original culprit', the statement regretted India's entry to the so-called 'star-wars club'..In a dramatic televised address to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on March 27, 2019, India announced the successful testing of an ASAT missile..The CNDP said since ASAT weapons could only be used to destroy adversary satellites, its use could be termed as "provocative", amounting to a declaration of war..Terming the tests as "India's bid to prepare for tomorrow's war", the organisation said these signs were "too ominous", and went against the resolution of the Outer Space Treaty, 1967 that India is party to. Terming United States as the 'original culprit', the statement regretted India's entry to the so-called 'star-wars club'..The treaty prevents the countries parties to it from carrying on any such exploration of the outer space that is detrimental to international peace and goes against the common interest of humankind.."The CNDP calls upon all other such bodies and peace loving people across the world to take note of this worrying development and redouble their efforts to ensure that the use of outer space is confined entirely for peaceful purposes," the statement said, while reiterating the organisation's continuing commitment to prevent the militarisation of the outer space and to further strengthen its global campaign for the same.
