China to support Pakistan's case for NSG membership: Report

ISLAMABAD: China has assured its closest ally Pakistan of support in the country's bid to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group ( NSG) if India is allowed to join the exclusive body, a media report said here today.

The assurance was given during the visit of a high-level delegation led by President Mamnoon Hussain to Beijing recently, the Express Tribune.

"The issue was discussed at length and Pakistan highlighted its point of view saying that it has equal right to join the group for fulfilling its requirement for peaceful use of nuclear technology," the report quoted diplomatic sources as saying.

"China, being member of the group and holding the veto power, assured Pakistan that it will take all measures so that it also becomes the member of the NSG," they said.

Pakistan has been saying that if it is deprived of NSG membership while India is accommodated, it would be taken as discrimination and lead to an imbalance in the region.

"If India is allowed to join NSG and Pakistan is deprived of the membership of the group, Beijing will veto the move to block Indian entry," sources said.

According to sources, Pakistan was aware of the fact that a quiet diplomatic move is on to induct India into the club of nuclear trading nations.

The 48-nation NSG is a multinational body that aims to reduce nuclear proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that may be applicable to nuclear weapon development and by improving safeguards and protection on existing materials.