As part of the bargain India has also indicated that it was not opposed to Pakistan’s entry into the elite club. Talking to reporters on Sunday, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said, “As far as the entry of Pakistan was concerned, India, being a non-member of the NSG, could not comment on its entry and its role. But we will not oppose entry of any nation to the NSG. We think that the application of each country should be considered on the basis of their merit.”
On Sunday it was reported that Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar made an unannounced visit to Beijing on June 16-17 as India pushed ahead with a determined bid to get NSG membership. Jaishankar’s visit came a week ahead of the plenary meeting of the 48-nation atomic trading bloc scheduled to be held in Seoul on June 24 where India’s membership is likely to be discussed.
“Yes, I can confirm Foreign Secretary visited Beijing on June 16-17 for bilateral consultations with his Chinese counterpart. All major issues, including India’s NSG membership, were discussed,” said External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Sunday.
Stating that China was talking only about the criteria and procedure to be adopted for membership of the elite 48-nation atomic trading bloc, Sushma Swaraj said India was hopeful that it would be able to convince China to back New Delhi. The NSG works under the principle of unanimity and even one country’s vote against India can scuttle its bid. Swaraj also said that India was confident of getting membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) this year.
“I think that there is a consensus being reached and am sure that India will get NSGmembership this year,” Swaraj told a press conference here while highlighting her ministry’s achievements in the last two years adding, “The NSG entry is crucial to India’s energy policy.”
“I’m in contact with 23 nations, 1 or 2 raised concern but think consensus is there.” She said that instead of talking about criteria with respect to India’s bid its credentials should be discussed. China is believed to be strongly opposing India’s membership at the premier club arguing that it was not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Earlier this week, China’s official media said India’s NSG membership would “jeopardize” China’s national interests besides touching a “raw nerve” in Pakistan. The Chinese Foreign Ministry had said a week back that members of the NSG “remain divided” on the issue of non-NPT countries joining it and called for “full discussions”. It is understood that a number of countries including Turkey, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand were not in favour of India’s entry into the NSG.
India has been reaching out to NSG member countries seeking support for its membership of the bloc whose members are allowed to trade in and export nuclear technology. The US has backed India and asked various NSG members to support New Delhi’s bid.