A discriminatory dossier

Pakistan has very rightly rejected a draft proposal that, if adopted, would pave the way for India to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) but make it difficult for Islamabad to join the exclusive club of civilian nuclear trading nations. The two-page document prepared ostensibly to end the current stalemate over Pakistan and India’s bid to join the 48-member organisation appears, in effect, seems to be aimed at effectively closing the NSG’s doors on Pakistan while letting India to join the coveted group. This highly discriminating proposal requires Pakistan to first win a separate NSG exemption to engage in civilian nuclear trade with member states. India was given a similar exemption in 2008 and this means that if the proposal is adopted in its current form that would remove the last hurdle for New Delhi to join the NSG. Pakistan has consistently emphasised the need for criteria based and non-discriminatory approach to admit new members, a position endorsed by China and some other NSG members. Reacting to the latest proposal whose details are yet to be revealed, Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria has appropriately pointed out that the Grossi formula was an internal document of the NSG, which had not yet been shared with Pakistan.



What one has been able to gather from media reports and public commentary on the Grossi proposal, by experts like Daryll Kimbal, is that the proposal seeks to propose the 2008 NSG exemption for India as a requirement for NSG membership which makes this document clearly discriminatory and would contribute nothing in terms of furthering the non-proliferation objectives of the NSG. Indeed, Pakistan continues to stress the imperative for a non-discriminatory criteria-based approach for NSG membership of non-NPT states in a non-discriminatory manner. Such a criteria-based approach is expected to further the non-proliferation objective of the NSG as well as the objective of strategic stability in South Asia. There certainly are some states which have already expressed their support for India’s membership. However, no NSG member has opposed Pakistan’s principled position for a non-discriminatory criteria-based approach. In fact, there is a growing traction for Pakistan’s position.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2017.

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