The NSG’s rules

Given India’s previous record of reluctance in fulfilling non-proliferation regime obligations like the NPT, moratorium on fissile material production etc, there is much reluctance among NSG members to include India into the NSG as a member. Some non-proliferation analysts feel that India does not share mainstream views about a range of international nuclear commitments and thus would actively dilute the NSG’s commitment to thenon-proliferation regime and seek to weaken the groups’ ties to the NPT if it becomes a member of the NSG.

To ward off such concerns, and the negative implications of the membership of a country who is a non-signatory of the NPT and whose nuclear tests in 1974 caused the very creation of the NSG, it the member countries of NSG must consider a clear criterion that serves the purposes of the non-proliferation regime and maintains uniformity in the application of principles in terms of obligations for new entrants.

Summer Muneeb

Islamabad