Sanjha Morcha

Not without Pak, China builds wall Most NSG members positive to India entry; Beijing spoiler

Not without Pak, China builds wall
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto drives Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a restaurant in Mexico City on Wednesday. PTI

Vienna, June 9

China is leading opposition to a push by the United States and other major powers for India to join the main club of countries controlling access to sensitive nuclear technology, diplomats said on Thursday as the group discussed India’s membership bid.Other countries opposing Indian membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) include New Zealand, Ireland, Turkey, South Africa and Austria, diplomats said.The 48-nation NSG aims to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons by restricting the sale of items that can be used to make those arms.India already enjoys most of the benefits of membership under a 2008 exemption to NSG rules granted to support its nuclear cooperation deal with Washington, even though India has developed atomic weapons and never signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the main global arms control pact.Opponents argue that granting it membership would further undermine efforts to prevent proliferation. It would also infuriate Pakistan, which responded to India’s membership bid with one of its own and has the backing of close ally China.“Bringing India on board is a slap on the face of the entire non-proliferation regime,” a diplomatic source from one of a handful of countries resisting India’s push said on condition of anonymity.A decision on the Indian membership is not expected before an NSG plenary meeting in Seoul on June 20, but diplomats said Washington had been pressuring hold-outs, and Thursday’s closed-door meeting was a chance to see how strong the opposition is. US Secretary of State John Kerry wrote to members asking them “not to block consensus on Indian admission to the NSG”.China, however, showed no sign of backing down from its opposition to India joining unless Pakistan becomes a member. That would be unacceptable to many, given Pakistan’s track record — the father of its nuclear weapons programme sold nuclear secrets to countries, including North Korea and Iran.Most of the hold-outs oppose the idea of admitting a non-NPT state such as India and argue that if it is to be admitted, it should be under criteria that apply equally to all states rather than under a “tailor-made” solution for a US ally.  

India still positive

“It’s an ongoing process but most countries appear positive,” said diplomatic sources in New Delhi. India has asserted that being a signatory to the NPT was not essential for joining the NSG, citing the precedent of France. The NSG works under the principle of consensus and even one country’s vote against India will scuttle its bid.  — Reuters/PTIMexico, meanwhile, too backs India’s bidNEW DELHI: In what is likely to strengthen India’s case for an entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Mexico on Thursday said it would support India’s membership into the elite grouping. The statement of support was made by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the country.The PM’s five-nation tour, which concluded with Mexico, saw the NSG agenda on top, with Modi pushing for support as India’s application comes up for consideration. Switzerland and the United States have already committed to supporting India. Mexico and Switzerland were initially not a part of the PM’s itinerary but were added specifically for the NSG agenda. TNS

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