New Delhi: India’s quest to attain membership of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) is likely to occur in tandem with Pakistan, said sources here. India’s membership of the NSG is one among the key issues being discussed by its ongoing plenary in Kazakhstan. But the trend of discussions has indicated that its membership will be considered along with that of Pakistan, the sources added.

For the past three years, NSG has occupied itself with the criteria for membership of countries not party to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). India followed by Pakistan tendered applications for the NSG membership. The problem is NSG membership is given only to countries that adhere to NPT or similar Treaties of Rarotonga, Tlatelolco, Pelindaba, Bangkok and Semipalatinsk. 

India does have a strong case, the sources conceded, because of its impeccable record in controlling intangible transfer of nuclear technology and know-how. China in tandem with a couple of countries has been insisting on a common criterion for non-NPT countries to join the NSG. Of the five nations that have remained out of the NPT fold, Israel is not interested, North Korea voluntarily left the NPT while South Sudan is a new country and could apply in due course. That leaves out only India and Pakistan who are eager to join NSG without being signatories to the NPT.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson also hinted that Pakistan cannot be left out and India admitted in the NSG. “The position by China and many other NSG members is not against any particular country. Rather, it is about NSG rules.”

Modi Headed For G-20 Summit 

PM Modi will attend the G20 summit in Osaka in Japan from June 27 to 29 with former minister Suresh Prabhu as his Sherpa. Terrorism, non-harbouring of economic offenders, economic stability, multilateralism in a reformed form, and climate change will be India’s priorities at the summit, Prabhu said.