WASHINGTON: Senator Edward J Markey from the US Foreign Relations Committee has lauded the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) to decline India’s request for membership, saying that the decision has strengthened the broader global non-proliferation regime.
In the last meeting, India was not allowed to participate in the group due to opposition by China which was supported by several countries. Decision on allowing membership to any country has to be made by consensus. The decision is a major blow to India’s quest for the membership, which was supported by the US.
Senator Markey from President Barack Obama’s Democratic Party praised the NSG decision for refraining from allowing Indian participation in the elite nuclear club. “By refraining from admitting India, the NSG strengthened both the treaty and the broader global nonproliferation regime,” he said.
He argued that the NSG was founded in response to India’s 1974 nuclear test and it had worked for decades to prevent the sharing of technology that could contribute to the further spread of nuclear weapons. “If India joined the NSG, it would be the only participating government in the group that was not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), weakening the NSG’s commitment to the treaty,” he added.
The lawmaker had severely criticised the Obama administration for supporting India’s bid as a ‘dangerous policy’ at a Senate hearing on US-India relations last month. He had warned that it would lead to a nuclear arms race in South Asia and would create an action-reaction chain leading to a never-ending escalation that would ultimately bring the battle-field nuclear weapons closer to the border of both Pakistan and India.
Earlier this month, the editorial board of the most influential The New York Times newspaper had also strongly opposed Obama’s support to India, saying that New Delhi did not deserve to become NSG member. The paper had argued that creating exception for India, which did not qualify to become member as it was not a signatory to the NPT, would encourage Pakistan to expand its nuclear capability.
