For NSG Membership, Pak’s Credentials Stronger Than India’s: Aziz

Sartaj Aziz said on Sunday that if India gains membership to NSG, Pakistan will soon follow suit.

Sartaj Aziz, Pakistani Foreign Affairs Advisor (Photo: Reuters)

Pakistan’s top Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz said Islamabad’s credentials for membership of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) are stronger than India’s if the 48-nation group agrees to form a uniform criteria for non-Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) states.

In an exclusive interview with DawnNews on Sunday, Aziz said Pakistan has diplomatically engaged numerous countries over the criteria-based approach for non-NPT countries.

If the group forms such a uniform criteria, then Pakistan has stronger credentials for NSG membership than India. Our strategy was to apply after India did, after which we would have immediately followed. We have had our application in an advanced state of readiness for the past three months for this purpose.

Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Advisor

He claimed that Pakistan has gradually gathered support for the criteria-based approach.

He expressed hope that, due to Pakistan’s efforts and its strong credentials, if India gains entry into the club, Pakistan will not be left behind.

Aziz said Pakistan has come a long way and everyone has witnessed Islamabad safeguarding its nuclear assets.

If you compare it with India, when our neighbouring country conducted a nuclear test in 1974, it misused the nuclear supplies given to it for peaceful purposes, which led to the formation of NSG. After that, nuclear fissile material was stolen from India, but such an instance has never occurred in Pakistan.

Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Advisor

The NSG, which was created in response to India’s first nuclear test in 1974, is expected to hold its next meeting in June.

The NSG is a 48-nation club dedicated to curbing nuclear arms proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that could foster nuclear weapons development.

Also Read:
Resistance to India’s Nuclear Suppliers Group Membership Softens
Despite Support, India’s Entry Into the NSG May Be a Distant Dream