The government didn’t officially comment on the development, but at a press conference in Washington after the Modi-Obama meet, Foreign Secretary Jaishankar said that President Obama had welcomed “our imminent entry” into MTCR.
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In his remarks, the Prime Minister thanked the Swiss President for Switzerland’s “understanding and support” for India’s membership of the NSG.
It is ironic that the Group, which was set up in response to the Indian nuclear test in May 1974 with the aim to further limit the export of nuclear equipment, materials or technology, is being asked to allow India to join it. NSG membership would give greater access to both the applicants to the worldwide nuclear market.
After MTCR’s announcement, India and the United States are expected to fast-track their discussion on sale of predator series of unmanned aircraft for the Indian military. “Moreover, China believed that it could use its backing down as a carrot for India to move away from a closer strategic relationship with the US”, says Walter Andersen, Administrative Director of the South Asia Program at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University.
Sehgal further said India is presently in a very advanced stage as far as nuclear technology is concerned and it will be allowed to sell its technology to other nations primarily for peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the field of industry, agriculture medicine, biotechnology, etc.
The diplomats said they’re concerned that admitting India before strengthening the NSG eligibility requirements would weaken the rules for other non-recognized nuclear-weapons states to join.
The NSG looks after critical issues relating to the nuclear sector and its members are allowed to trade in and export nuclear technology.
If India is successful in gaining entry to the group, it could keep Pakistan from gaining membership because group decisions are made through consensus. Membership would enhance India’s standing as a nuclear weapons state, but it is not merited until the country meets the group’s standards.
While the US has expressed its firm backing to India’s inclusion into the 48-member nuclear club building on the India-US nuclear accord, China has been insisting that there should be consensus among the members about inclusion of countries who have not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
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It has not accepted legally binding commitments to pursue disarmament negotiations, halt the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and not test nuclear weapons. The group of so called “non-prolifertion hardliners” has in the past offered principled opposition to India’s membership of NSG. Mr Obama is lobbying for India to win membership through a special exception. “That could give Pakistan, which at one time provided nuclear technology to North Korea and Iran, new incentives to misbehave”, the NYT said. But the issue will not go away. “If it wants recognition as a nuclear weapons state, it should be required to meet the nuclear group’s standards, including opening negotiations with Pakistan and China on curbing nuclear weapons and halting the production of nuclear fuel for bombs”.
