NSG meeting ends; no consensus on Indian bid

No consensus on India`s induction into the Nuclear Suppliers` Group (NSG) emerged at the 48-member plenary meeting by another tea break (10.30 p.m) here on Thursday.

As per the ANI tweets the NSG meeting has ended for today and meeting of heads of delegations in Seoul, will continue tomorrow.

#Flash Special #NSG meeting in Seoul, ends.

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 23, 2016

#Flash Meeting of Heads of delegations of #NSG in Seoul, to continue tomorrow.

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 23, 2016

Highly placed sources told ANI that China is not the sole opponent to India`s membership to the NSG, but Brazil, Austria, Ireland, Turkey and New Zealand too have opposed India`s entry, citing it`s not being a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) for nuclear weapons and weapons technology.

#FLASH Ireland and Turkey opposed India's induction into NSG citing India being non NPT state.

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 23, 2016

#FLASH Mexico backed India's induction into NSG

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 23, 2016

Mexico, however, backed India`s membership. Sources further said the meet also did not discuss the induction of Pakistan into the elite group.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tashkent and urged China to make a fair and objectives assessment of New Delhi`s application to the NSG and to judge it on its own merit.

China has been opposing India`s bid on the grounds that New Delhi has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) -- one of the main requirements to be part of the elite club of nations that regulate global nuclear trade and technology. Supporting China`s view are Turkey, South Africa, Ireland, Austria and New Zealand.

China has supported Pakistan`s application that virtually stonewalled India`s chances of getting into the bloc without signing the NPT.

As per ANI tweets, "no discussion took place on induction of Pakistan in NSG".

#FLASH No discussion took place on induction of Pakistan in NSG

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 23, 2016

Briefing the media about the meeting, Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said Modi had asked China to contribute to the emerging consensus in the ongoing NSG plenary meeting in Seoul.

"In fact the rest of the meeting was devoted to this issue. Prime Minister Modi urged China to make a fair and objective assessment of India`s application and judge it on its own merit," Swarup said.

"He (Prime Minister) said China should contribute to the emerging consensus in Seoul," Swarup quoted Prime Minister Modi as saying," he added.

Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar on Wednesday left for Seoul to make a last minute push for New Delhi`s entry into the elite group. 

According to sources, this move is being seen as a final push on India`s part to make its case. Jaishankar, who is not a part of the negotiations in the NSG`s inner circle, will reportedly lobby for India`s bid.

This comes days after Jaishankar made a two-day trip to China on June 16 and 17 to discuss the matter with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

China, till now, has been playing the role of a dampener on the issue of clearing the way for India`s admission to the NSG by repeatedly stating that it is not on the agenda of the grouping, which began its plenary session in Seoul on Monday.

However, the support of China holds importance in view that it is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and holds a `veto` which, if it chooses to use, will spoil India`s efforts. 

(With agencies inputs)