Sushma confident of Chinese support over NSG entry
19 June, Bengaluru
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Sunday said international consensus was building up for India’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group and expressed confidence that New Delhi would be able to convince China by the time elite club meets at Seoul on June 23 to discuss the issue.
Her statement, made at a press conference held here to highlight the achievement of her Ministry over the past two years, came in the backdrop of Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar’s unannounced visit to China, during which he discussed the issue of NSG membership with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
Ms Swaraj also used the occasion to articulate at length the Modi Government’s Pakistan policy during which she gave a terse message to the neighbouring country that talks and terror could not go together.
The Minister also made it clear that India was not opposed to Pakistan’s membership to the NSG, a precondition being put up by China, before an exception is granted to New Delhi for its entry into the nuclear cartel.
Ms Swaraj stated that China was not opposed to India’s entry into the 48-member club, but wanted the group to agree on a ”criteria”.
But she said, ”it is India’s track record, instead of criteria that should be discussed. I can say with great satisfaction that whatever commitments and undertakings we gave before getting NSG waiver, we have honoured.”
” I think a consensus is developing, and I do not see that any country will go against it, andThis time we will get entry into NSG,” she said, adding that she had personally spoken with 23 of the 48 countries of the NSG.
Ms Swaraj also answered a number of questions on India’s relations with Pakistan and other neighbouring countries.
Seeking to put at rest speculation about the state of resumed dialogue between the two countries and the NIA visit, the External Affairs Minister said the Foreign Secretary-level talks between the two countries had not been cancelled and the NIA had not been denied permission to visit Pakistan, in connection with the Pathankot terror attack.
”Foreign Secretary-level talks have not been cancelled from our side, nor from their side.”
But, she said after the Pathankot terror attack, India was expecting some concrete action and it was waiting for that.
The Joint Investigation Team sent by Pakistan had taken some leads and they said they were studying it. ”They have asked for some more time. They have not refused permission for NIA visit,” she added.
She said India’s policy on Pakistan was very clear consisting of three key elements.”We are very clear on Pakistan. That all issues can be resolved through dialogue. Secondly, all the issues will be taken up bilaterally with no involvement of any third party. And lastly, terror and talks cannot go together,” she said.