Even as PM Narendra Modi was busy getting support from Switzerland, the United States and Mexico, for its bid for membership to the the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Pakistan was also working overtime to rally support for itself.
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“Mexico recognises India’s interest in joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group”, Pena Nieto said, with Modi at his side at the Mexican president’s Los Pinos residence.
India’s diplomatic efforts appeared to have borne fruit, with both Switzerland and Mexico backing India’s membership to the elite club that regulates global nuclear trade.
China is leading the opposition to New Delhi’s entry to the NSG club, said a few diplomats of member nations after a closed-door meeting on Thursday.
Among the countries being sceptical to India’s entry were New Zealand, Ireland, Turkey, South Africa and Austria.
“With regard to what to do on the issue of non-NPT signatories joining (the NSG), China consistently supports having ample discussion on this to seek consensus and agreement and come to a unanimous decision”, Hong said.
India already enjoys most of the benefits of membership under a 2008 exemption to the group’s rules granted to support its nuclear cooperation deal with the United States.
A meeting of the NSG later today in Vienna is scheduled to discuss India’s membership application which will be followed by another meeting on June 24 in Seoul. On his part, the Prime Minister thanked Mexico for its support and called the country an important partner for India’s energy security.
But China on Thursday maintained its position that the NPT is central to the NSG, the Reuters report quoted diplomats as saying.
Pena Nieto’s support is a boost for Modi, but he must still win China’s support to seal India’s membership of the non-proliferation body.
The US and many other NSG member countries have supported India ” s inclusion based on its non-proliferation track record. AQ Khan, the father of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, sold nuclear secrets to North Korea and Iran.
Modi thanked the Mexican President for the support. India, therefore, did not see merit in singling out Beijing’s opposition.
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The US is not only supporting India’s application but is also encouraging other countries, including China, to back the Indian move.
