Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani has stepped up efforts to gain support of the Obama administration, US lawmakers and American think-tank for the membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

The Ambassador has assured the US leadership that Pakistan shares the international concerns against proliferation of WMDs and their means of delivery. Pakistan’s inclusion in the NSG would be the right decision to enhance international security,” embassy officials said. It has been emphasized that Pakistan’s membership in the NSG would not only go a long way in strengthening the international non-proliferation regime, but also help Pakistan enhance its capabilities in harnessing peaceful uses of nuclear technology for the country’s burgeoning population of almost 200 million people, including in the fields of health, agriculture and power generation.

Pakistan, as one of the founding members of the IAEA, has actively contributed to the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in negotiating multilateral arms control and disarmament instruments on the principle of equal and undiminished security for all.

Pakistan has also instituted elaborate export control regime, legislative framework and comprehensive regulatory and administrative measures.

Pakistan’s Export Control Lists are in harmony with those of the NSG, Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and Australia Group; whereas India is lagging behind in elaborate export control regime, legislative framework and comprehensive regulatory and administrative measures. Thus Pakistan is very much entitled for the membership of Nuclear Suppliers group. India is in violation of atomic reactors’ safeguard. Out of 22, eight atomic reactors are outside international safeguards.

Contrary to what India claims, its 2005 commitments, 2006 separation plan, and the 2009 IAEA safeguards agreement and Additional Protocol, do not provide any proliferation benefits. To the contrary, the continued link between Indian civilian and military nuclear facilities, and exceptions in its safeguards agreement, provide it an opportunity to use foreign supplied safeguarded nuclear materials to produce unsafeguarded nuclear materials which can be used for military purposes.

The exceptions in the Indian safeguards agreement are unique, which are not available to the nuclear weapon states under their safeguards agreements with IAEA. This exception should be withdrawn.

The Indian safeguards agreement is not equivalent to NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty) and thus India cannot simply claim NSG membership based on its 2008 commitments. NSG should require India to meet certain criteria which help in plugging the loopholes in its non-2005 proliferation commitments, 2006 separation plan and 2009 safeguards agreement and the additional protocol.

Continuation of such exemptions, and Indian entry in NSG without rectifying the shortcomings of Indian non-proliferation commitments, will be detrimental to NSG non-proliferation objectives and strategic stability in South Asia by undermining the nuclear balance in the region.

Contrary to this, Pakistan fulfils criteria and Pakistan nuclear program is safer than India hence, qualifying for the membership of Nuclear Suppliers group (NSG). USA should stop taking the unjust side of India risking the world peace.