Ahead of the Nuclear Suppliers Group’s (NSG) meeting in Vienna next week where India’s application is likely to be discussed, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said the Government has had continued conversations with NSG members and remains engaged in the process. India has also made efforts to convince China that has created hurdles by insisting on signing of the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a mandatory clause.
Though China has remained non committal so far, India hoped Beijing will see the logic in its entry into the 48-nation grouping. last week, Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security) Amandeep Singh Gill and his Chinese counterpart Wang Qun had held talks on the NSG issue in Beijing. While terming talks as fruitful MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said India hoped that China will eventually support India's bid.
“It is not really for us to comment as we are not inside the room. However, after the NSG Plenary in Seoul we have had continued conversations with NSG members and remain engaged in the process. We have lodged our application. Now it is for the NSG members to consider it and take a decision,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Thursday on India’s chances.
The NSG is expected to discuss the entry process of non-NPT signatory countries. India has made diplomatic outreach with several countries and recently New Zealand Prime Minister John Key during his visit to India said he will contribute constructively to the process currently underway in the NSG to consider India's membership. He said New Zealand is committed to working with NSG members to reach a decision as soon as possible.