NEW DELHI. June 5: India's new centre left government said' today that it would retain the option to build nuclear weapons until universal nu clear disarmament .was achieved, reports Neuter

“The United Front government will continue to work for universal nuclearMlsarmament and'will retain the nuclear option till this goal is achieved, the four day old government styd in a policy statement

India exploded an atomic device in 1974 but says it has never built a nuclear weapon Western experts believe noth India and neighbouring Pakistan could quickly assembly nuclear weapons

India's longstanding policy has been to retain the option to build nuclear weapons in the event national security were to be threatened.

The government of former prime minister PV Narasimha

Rao. whose Congress Party was defeated In recent genera) election, refused to sign the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) last year, claiming it would not lead to global nuclear disarmament.

Another report says. India s new centre left government said today that peace could be brought to rebellious Kashmir by granting citizens greater autonomy while keeping Jampiu and Kashmir state wfthin the nation.

"Respecting article 370 of the'constitution as well as the wishes of the people, the Eroblems of Jammu and ashmir wHI be resolved through giving the people of that state the maximum degree of autonomy" the government said in a policy statement.

Article 370 of the constitution grants Jammu and Kashmir state special status but

separatist leaders claim the autonomy has been eroded in recent years. ,

Farooq Abdullah, leader of the largest pro-India party In Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference, has called for restoration of the state’s autonomous status as a precondition for participating in state assembly polls

Last week he said the new government of Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda might offer package granting the Himalayan state greater autonomy before organising assembly elections which were last held in 1987 before the outbreak of a separatist revolt.

AFP ados. India s new United Front Government pledged today to provide a greater degree of autonomy to Kashmir and hold state assembly elections "as soon as possible" in the troubled Himalayan territory.