India talks with China on NSG : MEA:

June 26, 2016 Naresh Sagar

Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday that there was only one country which persistently raised procedural hurdles as a result of which no result could be arrived over the issue on Indias Nuclear Suppliers Group membership, adding that India will continue discussions with China on the issue.   There are some processes which take longer, Id evaluate the NSG membership process in that category, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.India to continue discussions with China on the NSG issue. There is a possibility of Indias inclusion, he said.

Some countries did raise procedure-related issues but not a single country apart from that one country opposed Indias membership of NSG, the MEA spokesperson said in an obvious reference to China.

Asserting that India has already implemented all Non-Proliferation Treaty provisions, Swarup said, Our position on the NPT is very well known. As far as the NSG is concerned, it said the implementation of NPT is important to the extent that goal post remains implementation of the NPT, we believe we have met the criteria and have all credentials to be an NSG member. Nuclear Suppliers Group will meet again this year to consider the process to include non-NPT (Nuclear Proliferation Treaty) states as members, including India, sources said.

According to sources, NSG members in Seoul have agreed to meet at a special session despite China’s opposition to India’s NSG membership. The United States will push for India’s NSG membership.

The NSG has also decided on informal consultations on India. Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi has been appointed to lead discussions on India’s case, sources said.