Pakistan is lobbying for its inclusion in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) amidst response to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech to the US Congress. Both Pakistan and India have applied for the membership of the group, the decision for which will be decided in the upcoming “extraordinary plenary meeting” of the 48-member group in Vienna. Modi is on a working visit to the US, ostensibly to gain the support of the US for India’s bid to join the group. While addressing US Congress, Modi highlighted the economic progress of India as well as steps taken against terrorism originating from “across the border.” Furthermore, he emphasised the need for cooperation between the two nations, which would be mutually beneficial for both the states. Modi’s address to US Congress underlines the strengthening of ties between the two countries, evident from US’s stance on exempting India of the certain conditions, including being non-signatory to the non-proliferation treaty (NPT). This shows America’s leaning towards India to strengthen its regional power amid rising tensions with China and strain in ties with Pakistan. It also indicates that the US considers India as a major player for the stability of the region, especially in Afghanistan.
In the wake of these developments, Pakistan has intensified efforts for its inclusion in the NSG, ensuring that all requisite rules for the entry are followed. The US asked the member states to exempt India of some conditions to join the group, whereas Pakistan has contacted Russia, New Zeeland, and South Korea to garner support for its bid to the inclusion in the NSG, along with requesting them not to allow India any exemption to join the group. Furthermore, Pakistan’s foreign office has also reached out to the US officials to seek support for Pakistan’s inclusion into the group. Senior White House officials are expected to reach Islamabad to discuss the issue along with other matters that have recently strained ties between the two countries. Pakistan’s bid to stop India’s inclusion hinges on Beijing’s opposition to India’s inclusion, as the latter has not signed the NPT. Moreover, a group within the NSG, according to reports, is pressing for a review of the membership rules ahead of any expansion instead of operating through exemptions. Pakistan hopes that the NPT criterion will block India’s entry into the group as the NSG operates through consensus, and even a single country’s vote can block the application for not meeting any of the core membership rules.
Pakistan needs to be realistic on the issue of the NSG as it cannot afford to strain ties with the US at the moment. Pakistan is in no competition with India, be it economic growth, defence spending, nuclear security, or technological advancements. The ambiguous stance of Islamabad on combating terrorism and the presence of some hardcore terrorists in Pakistan do not portray a rosy picture of its sincerity to the agenda of elimination of terrorism to the international community. Furthermore, the mindless spending on nuclear arsenal will not lead country anywhere due to its current economic situation. Pakistan already has a sizeable nuclear arsenal, and it is high time Pakistan realised the redundancy of spending billions on a weapon of mass destruction that will not be used by any country in any conventional warfare. It is the failure of Pakistan’s foreign policy that led the US to align with India. Pakistan’s continuous inability to go all-out against terrorists without distinction of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ has alienated the US authorities, resulting in the hardening of stance on financial and military aid to the country along with the F-16 debacle. Pakistan needs to clarify its stance on these issues to portray a clear picture of its short and long term foreign policies to seek entry to the NSG.*