No breakthrough likely on NSG in Xi-Modi meet at BRICS Summit

Beijing indicates it will continue its technical hold on India's bid for a UN ban on Masood Azhar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s  meeting with President Xi Jinping of China on the sidelines of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit over the next weekend in Goa is unlikely to yield any breakthrough on two issues that have vexed New Delhi-Beijing bilateral relations in the recent past — India’s entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and its bid to have a United Nations ban on Jaish-e-Mohammed founder Masood Azhar.

Sources said Modi’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to be more fruitful. Russia and India are likely to take forward their discussions on Delhi’s interest in buying Russian manufactured long-range air defence missile systems, helicopters and upgradation of the Sukhoi-30 MKI. Discussions on counter-terrorism among BRICS countries will also feature during the Summit on October 15-16. There is also a likelihood of  BRICS member countries proposing aid for civil war-affected Syria.

In Beijing on Monday, China’s Vice-Foreign Minister Li Baodong said Russia and China “hold similar positions on the most important international and regional issues, including on Syria and Afghanistan”. Li said the two permanent members of the UN Security Council continue close cooperation on international and regional issues. On China extending its hold on India’s efforts for a UN ban on Azhar, mastermind of the Pathankot terror attack, he said Beijing was opposed to all forms of terrorism. Li, however, put in a caveat. “There should be no double standards on counter-terrorism. Nor should one pursue own political gains in the name of counter-terrorism,” he said in a veiled reference to India. On India’s entry into NSG, he  indicated Beijing’s position remained consistent. He said NSG rules mandate new members can only be admitted after a consensus among the 48-members of the nuclear export control club.

“These rules are not to be decided by China alone,” he said, adding that India and China have maintained good communication” on the issue and Beijing will continue consultations with India.

“In this aspect, we are also ready for discussions with India to explore possibilities but things need to be in keeping up with procedures, norms and regulations of the NSG. On this issue, China position is consistent. That is why China has often said international law must be observed,” he said.

India had singled out China for blocking its entry into the club after the NSG plenary in South Korea in June. China has maintained that India is not a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which it says is a pre-requisite for entry into the NSG.

Apart from BRICS leaders, India will also host BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Initiative) member countries. This is part of the BRICS outreach, where for the past two summits, the host country invites heads of a regional grouping for interaction with BRICS leaders. Heads of state and government of BIMSTEC members have confirmed participation. BIMSTEC comprises Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

That India didn’t invite the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) members to the outreach has been attributed to the recent India-Pakistan tensions. The Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, however, was guarded in his reply to a question that Pakistan has been “kept out”.

He said there was “no attempt to form a clique” to keep any country out. Apart from visiting India, the Chinese President also scheduled to pay a state visit to Bangladesh.