It would also anger Pakistan, an ally of China’s, which has responded to India’s membership bid with its own. Opponents argue that granting India membership would undermine efforts to prevent proliferation. India which got a one-time waiver from the NSG to buy atomic power plants and related technologies from the global market, is looking for NSG membership so as to access an entire range of sensitive knowhow from NSG members. “President (Mukherjee) asked President Xi to give it his personal attention,” Jaishankar said. Formed in 1974 in the aftermath of India’s first nuclear test, NSG counts nuclear weapon states the US, Russia, China, Britain and France as members.

Source: Mint June 12, 2016 19:30 UTC