Experts hope NSG will adhere to unbiased approach

NSG set to take up membership applications of Pakistan and India this week


APP June 20, 2016
NSG set to take up membership applications of Pakistan and India this week. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is set to take up membership applications of Pakistan and India in its week-long annual plenary meeting which begins today (Monday) in Seoul, South Korea.

Pakistan formally submitted its application on May 19, a week after India applied for the group’s membership. New Delhi resumed nuclear weapons testing after 24 years the same day it sent in its application.

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Sources privy to developments hoped the group will strictly adhere to a non discriminatory and unbiased approach while considering granting `participating government’ status to Pakistan.

“The nature of threat that exists today needs to be addressed collectively and therefore, Pakistan sees itself as a like minded partner in the global non proliferation efforts being member of the nuke supplier band,” they said.

“As a responsible state, Pakistan is participating in and cooperating with the international community in efforts to prevent and control proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”

“The NSG should follow an objective, equitable and non discriminatory approach for admitting new members. Grant of

exclusive NSG membership to only one non NPT country would adversely affect progress in non proliferation, arms control and disarmament measures at the multilateral forums, as well as regional peace, security and stability,” they added.

India's top diplomat makes 'unannounced' visit to China to lobby support for NSG membership

Being party to the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is one of the main factors considered for admitting new participating governments in the NSG. Like India and Pakistan, Israel and South Sudan are also not signatories to the NPT. North Korea withdrew from the NPT in 2006 before conducting its first nuclear test.

Sources said Pakistan seeks a non discriminatory and rule based system for wider access to peaceful nuclear technologies, which is imperative for its socio economic and technological development. Blocking access to these regulatory arrangements will be tantamount to capping Pakistan’s development.

Dispelling the impression of a delay in pursuit of the NSG membership case, they observed that Pakistan has remained proactively engaged with the group since the start of this millennium and there was no substance in such misperceptions.

“Pakistan’s case to become NSG member is very strong as it fulfills all the requirements. Pakistani public has pinned high hopes for a non discriminatory consideration on the NSG,” said executive director of the Centre for International Strategic Studies, Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi.

NSG decisions are heavily influenced by strong American lobbying. In an exceptional move, the US in 2008 secured a special trade waiver for India even though its domestic laws and non proliferation norms do not permit such an exemption.

Despite being a non NPT state, Pakistan has been a responsible nuclear power and synergistically works with and in accordance with International Atomic Energy Authority’s (IAEA) standards, Ambassador Naqvi said. He added that the country has a well defined and robust command and control system under the National Command Authority for nuclear safety, security, non proliferation, export control and WMD counter terrorism measures, which are some of the credentials considered for awarding membership.

Making India an NSG member state will be a mistake

In order to regulate exports of goods, technologies, material and equipment related to nuclear and biological weapons, and their delivery systems, Pakistan promulgated the Export Control Act in September 2004. The Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Ordinance (CWCIO) already exists since 2000, Ambassador Naqvi said.

Consistent with the decision of the 1992 NSG plenary meeting, Pakistan believes strategic and political expediencies as well as commercial competition should not compromise the mutually shared non proliferation objectives of the NSG. Discriminatory approach for a membership would adversely affect regional peace, security and stability. Equally, it will undermine the global non proliferation regime, he stressed.

The European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) has granted Pakistan status of associate member. Pakistan has contributed 37 out of 300 scientists to CERN whereas India is not even a member of the highly prestigious colloquium. This indicates that Pakistan would positively participate in the NSG too.

Dr Zafar Iqbal Cheema, who heads the Strategic Vision Institute and is a leading specialist on India, said Pakistan has legitimate needs for power generation to meet the growing energy demand of the expanding economy. Civil nuclear power generation under IAEA safeguards is an essential part of the country’s national energy security plan to support sustained economic growth and industrial development, and this can be easily achieved if the status of NSG membership is approved, he said.

Pakistan has established an autonomous Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) that closely collaborates with the IAEA, particularly on matters of nuclear safety, security and radiation protection. Professor Cheema said: “Pakistan has a four decade long experience of safe and secure operation of nuclear power plants.”

All of Pakistan’s civil nuclear facilities are under IAEA safeguards. Pakistan commits to place all foreign supplied nuclear reactors under safeguards.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2016.

COMMENTS (16)

alinadeem | 7 years ago | Reply Gentlemen: Pakistan Is A Responsible country, It has all rights to act where it is necessary. No one can ask question or point finger on our affairs.
Dr Tayyab kiyani | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistan is in.... Now its not a question that Pakistan will be granted the membership or not its like how early Pakistan gets his seat .... India on the other is still on risk ..... because few days back their was news on media that from India's nuclear facility a large amount of uranium was stolen .... so india is not a secure state in regard to nuclear security and In case of Pakistan Allah hum du lillah no such incidence have taken place ....
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