A key US Senator, Ed Markey, has warned that enabling India to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) would cause a “never-ending” nuclear race in South Asia.
The NSG is a multinational body, which seeks to reduce nuclear proliferation by monitoring the export, re-transfer and protection of sensitive materials.
“What you are doing is creating an action-reaction that is leading to a never-ending escalation cycle that ultimately leads to the development of nuclear weapons including battlefield nuclear weapons,” Senator Markey warned US Assistant Secretary for South Asia Nisha Biswal.
At a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on US-India Relations on Tuesday evening, Senator Markey reminded the US official that the Obama administration’s policy of helping India join NSG was dangerous and unnecessary.
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“If India gained the membership of NSG then it would be the only participating government that was not a member of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). Despite the lack of consensus in the NSG on India’s membership, the Obama administration is forcefully pressing for a vote in the coming months,” Senator Markey noted.
He said that the US had repeatedly carved out exemptions for India, starting with the sale of uranium in 1980, which was in 2008 through US-India nuclear deal that did not require full-scope safeguards.
Assistant Secretary Biswal said that President Obama had reaffirmed that India met the criteria and was ready to join the NSG and it also had harmonised its export control with the NSG and has adhered to the group’s guidelines.
He noted that since 2008, when the US gave India an exemption, it has continued to produce fissile material for its nuclear weapons program “virtually unchecked.”
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“At that time, Pakistan warned us that the deal would increase the chances of the nuclear arms race in South Asia. It is clear that since then Pakistan has developed battlefield nuclear weapons that could be given to frontline Commanders and there is a likelihood of the use,” the senator added.
“Is there a relationship between what we do with India such as granting them exemptions from the rules and how we deal with Pakistan in restraining them from making certain choices?”
“We have distinct and robust dialogues with both countries and address interests of both countries on their respective merit,” Assistant Secretary Nisha Biswal said.
I think the US is playing with fire by allowing India to acquire fissile material on the open market, while sanction Pakistan to be a member of NSG.
It is like asking someone to take off its shirt, while every body else is wearing one. It will force Pakistan to raise its nuclear defense against India, ushering a new race in the subcontinent.
India is on a different level economically and politically and it is USA's compulsion to engage India. Pakistan is no match and it is foolish to try to be one
If Pak tries to catch-up with India it will bankrupt the country, unless they go about holding a 'begging' bowl on China's door!
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