Nuclear Suppliers Group: A Power Play – OpEd

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Volatility happens to be the defining feature of the South Asian region due to the arch-rivals- India and Pakistan. The recent strategic developments and NSG’s power play has stirred a continuous debate in the International politics. The reason mainly being India’s entry in to the club, highlighting the political dimension to it which seems quite cynical as this multinational body was created in response to India’s peaceful nuclear tests named, ‘Smiling Buddha’ in year 1974 whose sole purpose was to attain the objective of nuclear non-proliferation.

It is an established condition that the membership in to the NSG only takes place if the party has signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and decisions pertaining to the change in the guidelines is done through consensus only. However, this precondition was evaded when a waiver was provided to India by United States back in 2008. Since then, certain analysts have argued that provision of such partisanship has led India to proliferate vertically, undermining the group’s credibility in the long run.

Looking at the outcomes of the last two plenary meetings, the inclusion of both India and Pakistan in to the group has not drawn any conclusion yet. Several key parties objected the inclusion of non-NPT states, thereby raising questions regarding their admissibility. Other states have called for a criterion based approach whereas, China emphasizes towards the adoption of non-discriminatory approach for the inclusion of non-NPT states. Nonetheless, India’s optimistic stance regarding the latest meeting which was held in June suffered a setback, as discussions revolved around the technical issues with the main focus on the implementation of Control Lists. Other issues that were discussed were related to: Transparency, licensing and enforcement, outreach activities, export control systems, updating of the guidelines and civil nuclear cooperation with India.

Previously, Rafael Mariano Grossi- the former chairman of the NSG was provided with the task to design a formula for including the non-NPT members in to the nuclear cartel. He came up with the nine -point formula, which was supposed to be a neutral design but kept India at an advantageous position and raised questions regarding Pakistan’s credentials. Though the only point where India seems ahead of Pakistan is the signing of the IAEA’s additional protocol to which Pakistan claims that it can accept the additional protocol after internal appraisal process and negotiation with IAEA.

Series of protests have been lodged by Pakistan over the biased and discriminatory nature of NSG guidelines. Major Powers play a significant role in defining the International politics and in case of NSG, the stance of United States in favoring India is no secret. According to Mark Hibbs, “The US, close allies, and India collaborated toward the goal of admitting India into several multilateral export control regimes, and important objective for India after years of being frozen out of International nuclear trade. The plan called for India to first join the Missile Technology control regime (MTCR), then the NSG and finally the control arrangements for conventional and chemical weapon.” This highlights that India is being given a preferential treatment whereas Pakistan is taken as an outlier. Moreover, such a biased approach would not yield any productive outcomes for the non-proliferation regime.

Any inequitable treatment regarding the membership will in return disrupt the South Asian strategic stability which will greatly undermine the non-proliferation agenda of the International community. Undoubtedly, the inclusion of both India and Pakistan simultaneously would strengthen the objectives of this nuclear cartel. Besides, the actions of NSG are consensus based, so once India is made part of the group it will be in the position to block Pakistan’s entry into the nuclear cartel.

A sense of optimism is perceived by both the parties, as their applications were not rejected by the nuclear club. Also, India is pursuing a proactive approach and is steadily trying to convince opposing members of the group. The recent three-nation trip of Narendera Modi to US, Portugal and Netherlands signifies the amount of effort India is putting in securing NSG’s membership. Hence Pakistan needs to robustly work on its diplomatic front in order to ensure recognition from the International community. Politics and power are the essentials of the International arena; hence one cannot question the motives of other states as we all bid to win this power marathon.

*Saman Rizwan is currently working as a researcher in Strategic Vision Institute, Islamabad and is an undergraduate student at department of Defense and Diplomatic Studies in Fatima Jinnah Women University.

3 thoughts on “Nuclear Suppliers Group: A Power Play – OpEd

  • July 31, 2017 at 11:42 am
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    What is most striking about India’s NSG membership saga is not New Delhi’s persistent failure to make headway on one of the current government’s central foreign policy priorities, but the extent and durability of China’s uneasiness at allowing India a seat at the table. Beijing’s recalcitrance on the question of NSG membership for India is a clear signal that India is and remains a major nuclear challenger to China – at least where global recognition of the two countries’ non-proliferation credentials is concerned.

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  • August 1, 2017 at 6:19 am
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    The real essence and the real objectives of the NSG will fall into trash once India would be granted a membership in to the group. The very group was formulated in order to mitigate the chances of future proliferation and as a wake up call to the India’s proliferation activities at that time. India being the violator of the non proliferation norms, and also the state rushing for nuclear power in order to fulfill its ever increasing hunger for nuclear power and to become a regional hegemon will make the group less effective and questionable for the very members.

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  • August 2, 2017 at 12:51 pm
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    The new trajectory by the Indian nuclear establishment will significantly change its offensive posture with far-reaching consequences for regional stability in South Asia. For one, Pakistan will be tempted to expand its arsenal to survive a pre-emptive strike, resulting in a regional arms race. But Pakistan will never pursue this type of arms race and the world has to realize that NSG waiver to India will compel Pakistan to take appropriate steps

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