India and Israel Vote Against Belarus-Pakistan Draft on Conventional Arms Control

Reform.news Editorial Team · 3 November 2026, 09:23

https://reform.news/en/india-and-israel-vote-against-belarus-pakistan-draft-on-conventional-arms-control/

The First Committee of the UN General Assembly approved a draft resolution entitled “Conventional Arms Control at the Regional and Subregional Levels”, submitted by Belarus and Pakistan, on November 2. The document was supported by 180 countries, while India and Israel voted against it. No countries abstained.

The sponsors are listed in draft resolution A/C.1/81/L.6. Pakistan presented the document at the meeting. A recording of the discussion and vote has been published on the UN website.

The draft proposes developing principles that could serve as the basis for regional agreements on conventional arms control. The UN Disarmament Commission is invited to consider formulating them.

The Indian delegation explained that states’ security interests extend beyond individual regions and subregions. New Delhi therefore considers it unrealistic to approach the maintenance of a balance in defence capabilities primarily at the regional level.

India also questioned the need for further work by the UN Disarmament Commission, noting that it had already adopted agreed documents on regional disarmament, conventional arms and confidence-building measures in 1993, 1999 and 2017.

The paragraph assigning this task to the Commission was retained in a separate vote: 113 countries voted in favour, three against, and 47 abstained.

The document was approved by the First Committee, which deals with disarmament and international security. This does not constitute the final adoption of the resolution by the UN General Assembly.

Conventional weapons, as explained by the UN, are weapons that do not fall into the category of weapons of mass destruction. They include, among others, tanks, artillery, combat aircraft, warships, missiles, small arms and ammunition.