Running into 30 pages, the report comes in the wake of Pakistan lobbying at the Capitol Hill and before the usa government in support of its membership to the 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group.
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The direction in which Kerry pointed to was ostensibly Pakistan and it made the case clear that while the United States was supporting India’s candidature at the NSG, Pakistan, too, may still get its backing.
US Secretary of State John Kerry wrote to NSG members asking them to support India’s bid but urged the NSG member states to “agree not to block consensus on Indian admission” to the group at the Seoul meeting.
However, the article also reiterated China’s tough stand that India being a non-signatory to the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is a major hindrance to its NSG ambition.
State Department Spokesman asked members to back India’s application when it comes up at NSG plenary in Seoul.
Reacting to a query about the possible outcome of the plenary meeting of the NSG later this month, Balachandran said it was possible that the decision on the applications of India and Pakistan are deferred till the inter-plenary meeting later this year, possibly after the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Plenary session. The paper also raises concerns about how India ally Pakistan will be left behind as the entry of India into the elite club will make it a legitimate nuclear power.
The US has been pushing for India’s NSG membership.
Experts pointed out that India’s membership is supported by a very powerful bloc and that the opposing bloc led by China will have to soften its stance sooner or later. “However, as a country that has signed neither the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) nor the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), India is not yet qualified for accession into the NSG”, it said. “If such a standard is to be made one day, then it will be possible for both India and Pakistan to become part of the group”, it said. “If it joins the group, New Delhi will be able to import civilian nuclear technology and fuels from the worldwide market more conveniently, while saving its domestic nuclear materials for military use”, said the article in the Global Times, a tabloid daily which is part of the ruling Communist Party of China group of publications headed by People’s Daily.
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He said Islamabad was for balance of power in South Asian as imbalance could be risky for the region.
