Belarus, Kazakhstan assure support for Pakistan’s NSG membership: Fatemi

Belarusian president is set to visit Pakistan next month, says special assistant to PM

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi has said that Belarus and Kazakhstan have assured support to Pakistan for its membership of the prestigious Nuclear Suppliers Group.

The country is expanding its relations with different countries, including Russia and the central Asian states, Fatemi said during an interview, adding that Belarusian President is visiting Pakistan next month.

The NSG is a group of nuclear supplier countries, established to prevent nuclear proliferation by means of controlling export of materials, equipment and technology to prevent manufacturing of nuclear weapons.

Fatemi added that the world is supporting Pakistan's stance on Kashmir, and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will raise the issue at the forthcoming UN General Assembly session, Radio Pakistan reported on Monday.



Similar to Pakistan, India has also been striving to attain the membership of the coveted group, but its efforts hit a stumbling block in June this year when six nations reportedly opposed its inclusion, citing the fact that New Delhi has yet to commit to the non-proliferation regime.

Meeting behind closed doors in Seoul for a specially convened session, representatives of the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group had deliberated India’s bid to become the 49th member.

Six countries, including China, Brazil, Austria, New Zealand, Ireland and Turkey opposed the bid citing the fact that India has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.