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Sushma Swaraj

India not opposed to Pakistan’s membership of NSG: Sushma Swaraj

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NEW DELHI: Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday that India did not oppose Pakistan’s membership of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

“We are not opposed to any country’s entrance into NSG based on merit, including Pakistan,” she said during a press conference.

Swaraj also rejected the notion that China is opposing India’s membership of NSG.

“It was totally wrong that China was opposing our NSG membership. It was only discussing the criteria procedure,” she said adding that India will be able to convince China as well in this regard.

The minister said that India was in contact with 23 nations regarding the NSG membership and it was trying to ensure that it becomes a member of NSG by the end of 2016.

Referring to Pak-India peace talks, Swaraj said Pakistan and India were enjoying warm relationship and both countries were in favour of peace talks and foreign secretary meetings.

“We have difficult issues to resolve with Pakistan. There is ease and warmth in the relations between the two countries at present,” the minister said.

Earlier on June 10, a high-level delegation of the United States held a meeting with Pakistani delegation led by the adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad.

The Pakistani side expressed its concerns over India’s membership in Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG).

The US delegation stressed that NSG would determine by consensus an application that Pakistan filed last week in Vienna to become its member

The US delegation was led by Adviser to US president Peter Lavoy and included US special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Olson and US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale.

Among others, Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry also attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the US State Department spokesman Mark Toner underscored the need for Pakistan and India to improve their relations.

According to a statement issued by Department of State, Toner said that any country can submit its application for membership. Pakistan has made public their interest and the US would consider it based on a consensus decision.

The State Department spokesman said enhanced ties among Pakistan, India and Afghanistan are better for the region.

Earlier, Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz on Wednesday telephoned foreign ministers of Russia, New Zealand, and Korea to highlight Pakistan’s credentials for the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership.




 

M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.