ISLAMABAD - Pakistan yesterday urged Nuclear Suppliers Group member countries to adopt objective and non-discriminatory criteria to award membership.

The NSG is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seeks to contribute to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons through the implementation of two sets of guidelines for nuclear exports and nuclear-related exports.

The NSG guidelines also contain the so-called “Non-Proliferation Principle,” adopted in 1994, whereby a supplier, notwithstanding other provisions in the NSG Guidelines, authorises a transfer only when satisfied that the transfer would not contribute to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

The non-proliferation principle seeks to cover the rare but important cases where adherence to the Non-Proliferation Treaty or to a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty may not by itself be a guarantee that a state will consistently share the objectives of the treaty or that it will remain in compliance with its treaty obligations.

The NSG guidelines are consistent with, and complement, the various international, legally binding instruments in the field of nuclear non-proliferation. These include the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Treaty for Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America (Treaty of Tlatelolco), the South Pacific Nuclear-Free-Zone Treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga), the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba), the Treaty on Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (Treaty of Bangkok), and the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Semipalatinsk).

Although India was optimistic to get a membership until now, the latest reports indicate it might have to wait a bit longer. Leading American think tanks such as the Stimson Centre, United States Institute of Peace and School of Advanced International Studies, believe India’s NSG application, which will come up for review on June 9 (today) at the Nuclear Suppliers Group meeting, is likely to face many roadblocks due to China’s determined bid to stop India from becoming an NSG member. Analysts suggest India’s NSG application is in a precarious position for several reasons, chief among them being China’s assertion that if the NSG countries make an exception for India, they should do the same for Pakistan. Pakistan has also filed an application.

Yesterday, Pakistan held a briefing for the NSG member countries’ envoys to present the country’s point of view. Additional Foreign Secretary Tasnim Aslam briefed the envoys. It was attended by a large number of ambassadors and other senior level representatives.

The additional secretary highlighted the factors, which placed Pakistan’s application for NSG membership on solid grounds. These include Pakistan’s technical experience, capability and well-established commitment to non-proliferation and nuclear safety and security, the foreign ministry said. The previous day, Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz discussed the NSG membership issue with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over the telephone.

“During the conversation, the practical questions related to the upcoming extraordinary Nuclear Suppliers Group Plenary in Vienna on June 9 were discussed,” the foreign ministry said.

Pakistan had applied to join the NSG in May, claiming it has the ability to adhere to the nuclear proliferation-reducing body’s standards. The NSG comprises 48 nuclear material-producing countries.

Urging NSG countries to adopt objective and non-discriminatory criteria for the membership of non-NPT states, Tasnim Aslam cautioned against any country-specific exemptions which would negatively impact strategic stability in South Asia, said the foreign ministry.

Earlier, a New York Times editorial said India's membership of NSG was “not merited until the country meets the group's standards. All the group's members have signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty but India has refused to do so. It has not accepted legally binding commitments to pursue disarmament negotiations, halt the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and not test nuclear weapons. The US has reiterated its support for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group in the face of opposition from China.”

Former ambassador to the US Syeda Abida Hussain said the US had two main interests with India. “Firstly, it is supporting and strengthening India against China and secondly India is the largest buyer of arms and weapons from United States. Pakistan rather than focusing on its relations with United States, should improve its trade and bilateral relations with Russia and China.”

She said the incumbent government must also focus on improving its relations with Iran because India could take advantages of the differences between Iran and Pakistan.

“India has been involved in efforts to destabilize Pakistan and carrying out terrorist activities in our country using Afghan soil,” she added.

Defence analyst Lt-General Moeenud Din Haider (retd) said Pakistan enjoyed equivalent status as that of India. “Both are nuclear powers. United States always give priority to India on Pakistan because India is one of the largest buyers of arms and ammunition from United States,” he added.

He said Pakistan should strengthen its relations with China rather than United States.

“China has always supported Pakistan in every crucial time and it has also supported our country in providing technology and weapons. China can also support Pakistan in membership of NSG just as United States is supporting India,” he maintained.