PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday left for home after wrapping up a brief visit to Mexico on the final leg of his five-nation tour, which also took him to the USA and Afghanistan.
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He said most members felt India had fulfilled most of the criteria set by the NSG since 2008. The tour, that began on June 4, saw Modi visiting Afghanistan, Qatar, Switzerland, the United States and Mexico with an aim to bolster ties.
INDIA on Thursday secured Mexico’s backing in its bid to become member of the NSG as it aggressively scouted for support ahead of a crucial meeting of the 48-nation nuclear trading bloc in Vienna. Consensus among the bloc members is important in allowing entry to a new country.
Mark Toner while replying to a question regarding US President Barack Obama’s backing for India to join Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) said that the nature of ties with Pakistan and India is different.
India has already got the support of other major NSG countries, including France, Russia and Britain. China has been opposing India’s membership at the premier club, arguing that it was not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
“We believe that Pakistan and India stand to benefit from practical cooperation and encourage direct dialogue aimed at increasing cooperation and reducing tensions”, he said.
“India is also pursuing membership into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, but certainly, if Pakistan wants to pursue that, that’s something for all the members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to consider”, he added.
The US has been trying to convince China to support India’s bid, and US Secretary of State John Kerry was in Beijing to try and get round China’s reservations on supporting India.
Modi’s is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Mexico after then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit in 2012 for the G20 Summit.
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Tewari said the fact that Modi spent only a few hours in Mexico shows a lack of commitment towards Latin American nations. He leaves for India on Thursday.
