US works for India's membership in Nuclear Suppliers Group

[cosmicone]

Source: Times of India/TNN

NEW DELHI: The US has proposed that adherence to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) need not be a "pre-requisite" for India's membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), but a suggestion, or a "factor to be considered". If this finds broader acceptance within the NSG, India's entry could become easier. The 45-nation nuclear club is meeting for its plenary in The Hague this week.

In a paper circulated among NSG members, the US, which had committed to supporting India's quest for membership to international non-proliferation regimes -- NSG, Australia Group, Wassenaar Arrangement and Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) -- has put a set of proposals to other members for India's accession. India has not signed the NPT and is unlikely to do so, because it considers the treaty to be inherently discriminatory and one that has outlived its usefulness.

India's non-NPT status stuck in many throats during the negotiations leading up to a waiver by the NSG in September 2008 allowing India to engage in nuclear commerce. As it seeks membership of the NSG, a body which was created in response to India's 1974 nuclear test, this clamour is likely to become louder.

Meanwhile, there remains the tantalising threat that the NSG might adopt new guidelines for export of enrichment and reprocessing technology (ENR) that could restrict it to non-NPT states. While this was spurred by the US, if it is adopted by NSG, there are fears that India might be adversely affected.

Read more: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/US-works-for-Indias-membership-in-Nuclear-Suppliers-Group/articleshow/8944450.cms

---

It is an amusing posture .... allowing India into the NSG would actually help non-proliferation than not allowing India to join.

[bananas]

1. Bad idea - then Pakistan could be allowed in, too.

India should sign the NPT and abolish it's nuclear weapons.

This Saturday is Nuclear Abolition Day: www.nuclearabolition.org

An article on Global Zero in The Economist: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1338424

[cosmicone]

3. NSG membership has

nothing to do with possession of nuclear weapons. A majority of NSG members do not have nuclear weapons.

".. then Pakistan could be allowed in too" lacks any rational reasoning. Pakistan will never have the benefit of a US-India nuclear cooperation treaty.

If you lived next to nuclear powered and belligerent China with daily claims on your territory and daily forced excursions in your territory, you would change your stance.

"No nukes" sounds good only on paper. In the reality of the world, it will never happen.

[EvilMonsanto]

2. not good

I'd trust India more than any other country but this sets a precedence, so it's not good

I am also scratching my head on how Israel is a member of CERN but not an NPT signatory