Belarus and Kazakhstan have assured Pakistan of their support for its membership bid for the 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), said Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Tariq Fatemi, in an interview with Radio Pakistan.
Islamabad launched a diplomatic push to woo the support of the bloc’s members months after the NSG had failed to reach consensus on allowing India and Pakistan into the group after several members of the international nuclear trade bloc insisted that members should adhere to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) condition for entry.
As part of the diplomatic efforts launched by Islamabad, Tariq Fatemi on Monday travelled to Brussels and held meetings with Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs Didier Reynders and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary-General Dirk Achten.
A statement issued by the Foreign Office in Islamabad said that Fatemi, travelling as a special representative of the prime minister, briefed his interlocutors about Pakistan’s application for membership for the NSG and sought Belgium’s support in this regard.
Presenting Pakistan’s point of view, Fatemi reiterated that Islamabad’s application for the NSG was based on solid grounds of technical experience, capability and commitment to nuclear safety and security.
The special assistant emphasised the need for adopting a non-discriminatory and objective approach while considering membership applications for NSG since it directly impacted the strategic stability in South Asia as well as the future of the global non-proliferation regime.
A Foreign Office official said Fatemi would also visit Norway to seek its support for Pakistan’s NSG membership.
Pakistan formally applied for the membership of NSG in May in response to India’s bid seeking formal entry into the nuclear trading club.
