Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said that India will not protest Pakistan’s entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). She was of the view that India is not against entry of any state, including Pakistan, into the NSG if country meets the merit.
Talking on Chinese stance regarding membership of India she said that Indian neighbor is not against entry of India into NSG but have asked for some conditions. India has played its card in such a manner that its entry into NSG looking more likely in comparison to Pakistan. At the moment China is resisting strongly Indian application while India have support of United States, Russia, Britain, France and other world powers. China believes that if India granted entry into this group it would enhance a nuclear competition in South Asia isolating Pakistan. China wants the group to admit Pakistan as well. Currently Turkey, Ireland and New Zealand are also among the opponents of India’s NSG quest.
Pakistan had been lobbying with various NSG member states including Russia, New Zeeland and Korea not to exempt India of certain prerequisites for joining the group.
Both Pakistan and India have not signed Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) which is one of the main impediments to joining the NSG.
NSG’s annual meeting would take place on June 23 and applications of India and Pakistan would be discussed for entry into the 48-member group. Considering the current scenario it seems only China is the main hindrance for India to get membership of the group, while Pakistan does not have enough support in the International arena as compared to India.
Pakistan needs to rethink its strategy to gain maximum international support on the issue.
