US supporting India’s NSG bid as part of ‘greater design’: Pak NSA

As per the Indo- US Civil Nuclear Agreement, India were to separate her civil and military nuclear establishments and place all her civil nuclear establishments under IAEA safeguards. US also agreed to support India’s bid to NSG – an export-import cartel that had mainly formed in response to India’s nuclear tests in 1974. This agreement was a watershed event in India’s history as the most powerful World nation had bestowed much faith and trust in India’s democratic system which was capable of understanding and managing the sensitivity of nuclear power.

Access to civil nuclear technology would provide energy security to India and boost energy intensive manufacturing activity in the country thereby generating employment opportunities for the semi-skilled Indian population. However, the Agreement was silent on the transfer of Nuclear Enrichment and Reprocessing technology without which India would neither be able to source Uranium from supplier countries nor be able to realise the full potential of the three stage nuclear power generation cycle.
Since the fruition of this agreement, US, France, Russia have agreed to set up nuclear power plants in India, but without the supply of nuclear fuel – Uranium, the power plants would remain defunct.

It is in this context that India is seeking membership of NSG, which is being stonewalled by a consortium of nations led by China at Pakistan’s behest. China argues that ratification of Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty (NPT) is a prerequisite to apply for NSG membership. India on the other hand argues that her Nuclear doctrine advocates no first use policy and that she has responsibly guarded her nuclear knowhow unlike China and Pakistan.

Pakistan argues that US is supporting India’s NSG bid so as to contain China’s economic growth and prevent the resurgence of Russia and thus avoid Cold War era like situation. Pakistan believes that if India were made a member of NSG, it would tilt the balance of power in India’s favour and lead to an arms race in the region. However, India has categorically dismissed the allegations of arms race and reiterated it’s intent to use nuclear knowhow for peaceful purposes along with her no first use nuclear doctrine.

India believes that geopolitics is preventing even the peaceful use of nuclear power that could address India’s energy needs and enable her to realise the full potential of her demographic dividend. It is evident that US is supporting India’s NSG bid as a part of its pivot to Asia policy, but from India’s view point, India will not only get a seat at the high table amongst the comity of World nations, but would also be able to propel it’s domestic growth rate and brand herself as an attractive investment destination.

By: Abhinav