Diplomacy versus principles

Nuclear confrontation in South Asia may be a distant reality, but both India and Pakistan are still involved in enhancing their nuclear capabilities and bolster their defenses.
Pakistan and India are busy making hectic diplomatic efforts to push for their membership of 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), an exclusive club for controlling access to sensitive nuclear technology. A recently held NSG meeting to debate India’s application for membership ended inconclusively and the matter is likely to be taken up again later this month.
Following India, Pakistan also formally expressed its desire to join the NSG last month based on “solid grounds of technical experience, capability and well-established commitment to nuclear safety.” After the endorsement of India’s application by the United States, Pakistan too sought the superpower’s backing to join the group. However, the US is likely to refrain from supporting Pakistan’s claim, especially in view of their troubled relationship these days. While most member states are in favor of granting membership to India, the proposed move is being fiercely opposed by China on grounds that it will be a discriminatory action against Pakistan and spark a new nuclear arms race in the region.
As any new membership application needs a consensus of all existing members, India’s bid is not likely to succeed. Other nations opposed to India’s entry reiterate that the country can only become eligible if it becomes a signatory to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In this scenario, the chances of both Pakistan and India becoming new members remain slim. Experts are of the view that Pakistan’s NSG application was in the first place difficult to justify and was, perhaps, intended more to sabotage India’s ambitions of joining the cartel. While India maintains separate civilian and military nuclear programs, it is pointed out that Pakistan’s nuclear program is largely aimed at achieving the country’s security-related objectives.
From Pakistan’s point of view, it has for long demanded a non-discriminatory and criteria-based treatment in matters of nuclear cooperation from the international community. India’s coveted civil-nuclear cooperation pact with the US back in 2008 irked Pakistan and it has since been unsuccessfully trying to conclude a similar arrangement. The 2008 agreement already allows India to enjoy most of the benefits of NSG membership under special exemptions. Therefore, it is contended that any changes in rules and concessions for entry to NSG should be extended equally to other states and not only to specific US allies, like India.
Essentially, it all boils down to power game in the region. As an NSG member, India will be able to access sophisticated nuclear technology, commercialize production of nuclear power equipment and increase energy production to meet burgeoning needs of the economy.
This will dramatically alter the strategic environment of South Asia. It is hoped that the world powers will consider the real purpose and principles of NSG before reaching any compromise to accommodate India. The desire to make our world a safer place to live must be prioritized over other diplomatic interests.