THE Nuclear Suppliers Group is a multilateral export control regime of 48 nuclear material and know-how supplier countries to prevent nuclear proliferation. These countries have pledged to control the export of nuclear materials, equipment and technology that can be employed to manufacture nuclear weapons.

The NSG members are also part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT. The NSG was founded in May 1974 as a result of India’s nuclear testing. It stands for mobilising useful nuclear technology within the cluster of member nations. Pakistan and India seek to be a part of this group and have applied for membership.

The membership is important as it ensures access to advanced nuclear technology to and from member countries of the group. Any country left out will face a sense of insecurity or vulnerability especially in the context of South Asia’s nuclear politics.

Though it is against NSG policy to admit members that are not part of NPT (both India and Pakistan are not), the question that arises: why is India receiving support from many countries for NSG membership when it is not part of NPT while Pakistan’s case is being opposed for the same reason.

The reason India is being given preference is because it has cordial relations with the United States, which views India as a major nuclear and conventional arms partner, signing multiple contracts of weapons sales. India’s position for the US as a counterweight to China in the region is the biggest point in favour of India. On the other hand, Pakistan has its ties with the United States getting frostier, making NSG membership improbable.

In this scenario, China has supported Pakistan stating that it will not approve India’s membership until and unless Pakistan is made a member.

If India is granted NSG membership, so should Pakistan, or else, the NSG’s impartiality and transparency will be open to question.

Hareem Aqdas,

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2018