Pak-India Nuclear Treaty

Pak India NSG

India’s NSG participation seriously threatens the credibility of the NSG. After the first  Indian nuclear test on May 18 1974, the US, Canada , The Federal Republic of Germany, Japan, the UK, France and the Soviet Union joined hands to coordinate their nuclear export controls. All these seven nuclear supplier countries were totally convinced of the fact that the Nuclear non-proliferation treaty was not doing enough to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. The plutonium used in India’s nuclear test was diverted from the safeguarded, Candu reactors supplied by Canada. The group of seven countries met for the first time in 1975 in London and is thus popularly referred to as the London group. In 1977 membership was expanded to 15 states and after the 9/11 attacks, the nuclear suppliers group emerged as the world’s leading multilateral nuclear export control body that governs international trade of nuclear related materials and technology.

The NSG’s original aim was to supplement the nuclear non proliferation treaty which permits peaceful use of nuclear energy but also prevents nuclear technology from being used for military purposes. Yet in the light of major developments, particularly the increasing nuclear proliferation outside multilateral controls, the NSG faces a host of challenges ranging from big question marks on its credibility to a growing debate about engaging nuclear states outside the NSG framework. In the course of globalization the world’s nuclear industry is rapidly evolving into a system of compels proliferation transactions involving independent financiers and traders whose shady dealings are totally disconnected from the world of nuclear trade controls.

India- Pakistan are also two nuclear armed countries that are non signatories to the NPT, have expressed interest in joining the NSG. However it is not easy to decide about accepting Delhi and Islamabad into the NSG. The question of expanding membership will have to be decided from the perspective of the NSG remaining fundamentally committed to the goals of the NPT or developing into a group of state that is capable of engaging in nuclear exports. Many countries have frequently complained that the NSG constitutes a cartel of nuclear technology owners. Pakistan also demands a civilian nuclear deal similar to the India-US accord that allows India access to nuclear technology despite being a non-signatory to the NPT. However there is not considerable diplomatic support in favour of Pakistan’s request due to our poor non-proliferation track record. While conducting the research on nuclear terrorism at a US based institute, it is raised this issue with many US nuclear experts about whether the US should extend cooperation with Pakistan in civilian nuclear technology. The experts opined that in addition to proliferation threats, Pakistan due to its poor economic situation might not be able to buy sensitive  nuclear technology even if the US agrees to any such kind of deal.

At the moment, it is certainly difficult to predict the outcome of the debate over expansion of the NSG membership but if a decision is taken in favour of creating an exception only for India has the potential to render the NSG irrelevant to the detriment of nonproliferation norms. How the NSG resolves this issue will inevitably shape its future role in the future nonproliferation agenda.